Does YouTube offer high-quality ınformation? Evaluation of patient experience videos after orthognathic surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the content, reliability, and quality of videos of patient experiences after orthognathic surgery on YouTube.

Materials and methods: Fifty videos that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The demographic characteristics of the videos were determined, and 13 points were used to classify poor and rich-content videos. The quality of the videos was evaluated using the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), Global Quality Score (GQS), and DISCERN. The Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman correlation, and linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Results: When poor- and rich-content videos were evaluated, there were statistically significant differences in video duration, number of likes, number of comments, and interaction index (P < .05). Compared to the poor-content video group, the GQS score, DISCERN, total content, and VIQI score of the rich-content video group were significantly higher. The interaction index and video duration and video information content quality showed a positive relationship.

Conclusions: Although the quality of the videos shared by patients on YouTube was generally moderate, the content of the information was generally poor. Nevertheless, it should be considered that YouTube videos can be a source of information for patients who want to have surgery, which can affect the process.