Reliability and Quality of Korean YouTube Videos for Education Regarding Gout

Abstract

Background: YouTube has become an increasingly popular educational tool and an important source of healthcare information. We investigated the reliability and quality of the information in Korean-language YouTube videos about gout.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive electronic search on April 2, 2021, using the following keywords-"gout," "acute gout," "gouty arthritis," "gout treatment," and "gout attack"-and identified 140 videos in the Korean language. Two rheumatologists then categorized the videos into three groups: "useful," "misleading," and "personal experience." Reliability was determined using a five-item questionnaire modified from the DISCERN validation tool, and overall quality scores were based on the Global Quality Scale (GQS).

Results: Among the 140 videos identified, 105 (75.0%), 29 (20.7%), and 6 (4.3%) were categorized as "useful," "misleading," and "personal experience," respectively. Most videos in the "useful" group were created by rheumatologists (70.5%). The mean DISCERN and GQS scores in the "useful" group (3.3 +/- 1.0 and 3.8 +/- 0.7) were higher than those in the "misleading" (0.9 +/- 1.0 and 1.9 +/- 0.6) and "personal experience" groups (0.8 +/- 1.2 and 2.0 +/- 0.8) ( P < 0.001 for both the DISCERN and GQS tools).

Conclusion: Approximately 75% of YouTube videos that contain educational material regarding gout were useful; however, we observed some inaccuracies in the medical information provided. Healthcare professionals should closely monitor media content and actively participate in the development of videos that provide accurate medical information.