YouTube as a Source of Information for Pressure Injury: Quality Assessment and Content Analysis

Objective: We aimed to assess the quality and reliability of pressure injury-related videos uploaded on YouTube, analyze the sources and contents, and examine the correlation between video parameters. Methods We searched YouTube using two keywords, "pressure ulcer" and "pressure sore", on August 20, 2022. The quality of videos was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), while their reliability was evaluated by the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool. In addition, we evaluated the videos in which content (risk factors, assessment, prevention, treatment) was included. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters and whether there were any differences in GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters based on the sources that provided the videos. Results We initially found a total of 100 videos for each keyword and finally included and analyzed 77 videos. The mean scores for the mDISCERN and GQS were 2.35 ± 0.98 and 3.09 ± 0.99, respectively. Both GQS and mDISCERN showed statistically significant correlations with each other (rho = 0.54, p < 0.001*) and with the length of the videos, respectively (rho = 0.36, p < 0.01*), (rho = 0.29, p < 0.05*). Of the videos created by physicians, 8 (57.1%) included content related to treatment, while of the videos created by nonphysician health personnel, 22 (57.9%) included content related to prevention. Analyzing whether there were differences in video parameters based on the sources, we observed significant differences between sources in GQS (p < 0.001*), mDISCERN (p < 0.001*), and video length (p = 0.001*). In the post hoc analysis, videos uploaded by physicians or nonphysician health personnel showed higher quality and reliability than videos uploaded by other sources. Conclusions YouTube videos provide information on pressure injury and exhibit significant heterogeneity in terms of quality, reliability, and content composition. Therefore, the results of this study can be useful for healthcare providers, as well as patients and caregivers, to search for high-quality and reliable videos on YouTube.