Jornal de Oftalmologia Clínica e Experimental
Acesso livre
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Mina Abdelmseih
Purpose: To evaluate and investigate the reliability and comprehensiveness of YouTube Videos contents’ for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: YouTube was surveyed in November 2015 using the keywords “Age-related macular degeneration “without any filters. Videos were classified as useful, misleading or irrelevant. The contents were assessed for reliability and comprehensiveness, on a 5-point scale each based on the DISCERN criteria.
Results: 60% of videos were categorized as useful, 35% as misleading, and 5% as irrelevant. According to reliability, videos were classified as 60% partially reliable, 35% unreliable and 5% reliable. According to comprehensiveness, total videos contents’ were ranked as 70% partially comprehensive, 15% comprehensive and 15% incomprehensive.
Conclusion: YouTube videos are a powerful source of information easily accessible to patients. Authoritative sources ought to use well known social media websites as learning resources to enhance patient education, raise disease awareness, and achieve better health outcomes, while avoiding misinformation, potential risks and complications.