Platelet-rich plasma videos for knee osteoarthritis on YouTube are of acceptable quality and content

Abstract

Individuals seeking information about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment for knee osteoarthritis, a controversial topic, may turn to YouTube. However, the quality and content adequacy of these videos should be questioned. This study analyzed YouTube videos related to PRP to evaluate their quality and content. The primary aim was to assess these videos' quality and content, while the secondary aim examined the relationship between video quality/content and video characteristics, information sources, and themes. A total of 250 videos related to PRP treatment for knee osteoarthritis were identified through YouTube searches, and 68 of them were included in the study. The number of views, number of days since upload, view ratio, video duration, number of comments, the source of the information presented in the video, and the overall theme of the video were recorded. The quality and content of the videos were evaluated using the DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association, Global Quality Score, and PRP scoring systems. Median scores for video quality and adequacy were: DISCERN: 48 (range: 19-76), Journal of the American Medical Association: 2 (range: 1-4), Global Quality Score: 3.5 (range: 1-5), and PRP score: 6 (range: 2-10). Video quality and content positively correlated with the number of views, view ratio, duration, and comments. Videos in which patients provided the information had the lowest scores in terms of quality and content. While sports medicine physicians generally achieved higher scores, no difference was found between orthopedic surgeons and other specialized physicians. This study has shown that YouTube videos related to PRP treatment for knee osteoarthritis are not of low quality. The positive correlation between video characteristics, such as the number of views and comments, and quality suggests that the YouTube algorithm may prioritize higher-quality content, potentially enabling individuals to access better videos. Physicians provided higher-quality content compared with patients, although differences were observed among medical specialties. This finding suggests that the quality of informative content on PRP may vary depending on the expertise of the content creator. Despite certain limitations, YouTube may serve as a useful resource for individuals seeking information about PRP treatment. However, for the most reliable information, academic sources with an editorial process should be consulted.

Keywords: YouTube; knee; osteoarthritis; platelet-rich plasma.

Figure 1.

Flowchart illustrating the inclusion and exclusion criteria for YouTube videos analyzed in the study.