How Reliable and Popular are Trabeculectomy Videos on Youtube?

PURPOSE: Evaluating the quality, dependability, and popularity of YouTube videos about trabeculectomy.

METHODS: A simulated user search for trabeculectomy videos on YouTube was conducted using the keywords "trabeculectomy, trabeculectomy surgery for glaucoma, and trabeculectomy surgery." Hundred out of the one hundred and fifty videos met the criteria and were analyzed. To assess quality and reliability, each video was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the DISCERN (scale, 1-5), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA; scale, 0-4), and Global Quality (GQ; scale, 1-5) criteria. The popularity of the videos was evaluated by Video Power Index (VPI). Videos were further classified into three groups based on the source of their upload.

RESULTS: Of the 100 analyzed videos, 50 were uploaded to the system by doctors, 40 by health institutions and 10 by patients. Fifty-seven percent are videos with surgical content. The mean DISCERN score was 44.84 ± 8.14 the mean JAMA score was 2.08 ± 0.67, and the mean Global Quality score was 2.02 ± 0.72. Although some videos provided adequate information, the majority of the videos were rated as fair. While the DISCERN, JAMA, GQS scores were statistically higher in videos uploaded by doctors than in videos uploaded by patients ( P < 0.01), VPI was higher in videos uploaded by patients ( P = 0.003). Nonsurgical videos had the highest rate of likes and comments ( P < 0.05). No substantial difference in scoring was observed between the 2 independent reviewers ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Videos with high popularity had low information quality and reliability. This situation presupposes video sharing in a more understandable language for patients.