Online Curves: A Quality Analysis of Scoliosis Videos on YouTube

Abstract

Study design: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of online scoliosis information available on the video sharing site YouTube.

Summary of background data: The Internet is an increasingly utilized resource for accessing information about a variety of heath conditions. YouTube is a video sharing platform used to both seek and distribute information.

Methods: A search for "scoliosis" was carried out using YouTube's search engine and data were collected on the first 50 videos returned. A JAMA score to determine currency, authorship, source and disclosure, and scoliosis-specific score that measures the amount of information on the diagnosis and treatment options (as devised by Mathur et al in 2005; scored 0-32) was recorded for each video to measure quality objectively. In addition, the number of views, number of comments, and feedback positivity was documented for each. Data analysis was conducted using R 3.1.4/R Studio 0.98 with control for the age of each video in analysis models.

Results: The average number of views per video was 71,152 with an average length of 7 minutes 32 seconds. Thirty-six percent of the videos fell under the authorship category of personal experience. The average JAMA score was 1.32/4 and average scoliosis specific score was 5.38/32. There was a positive correlation between JAMA score and number of views (P = 0.003). However, in contrast, there was a negative correlation between scoliosis-specific score and number of views (P = 0.01).

Conclusions: Online health information has historically been poor and our study shows that in an environment like YouTube that lacks a peer review process, the quality of scoliosis information is low. Further work is needed to determine whether accessing information on YouTube can play a role in patient care other than simple education pertaining to the disease and its management.

Level of evidence: 3.