Evaluating YouTube as a source of information on hemifacial spasm

Background and Objectives

Patients increasingly turn to YouTube for trustworthy health-related information, prompting a study to evaluate the quality and reliability of videos about hemifacial spasms (HFS) available on the platform.

Materials and Methods

In August 2024, a systematic search was conducted using a formal strategy to identify relevant videos. Two independent neurology resident physicians reviewed each video, scoring it with the validated modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool for reliability and the Global Quality Scale (GQS) for content quality. Videos were categorized based on their purpose and assessed for video/audio quality, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and procedure-specific content.

Results

The study included 44 videos. According to GQS, 17 (38.6 %) were rated as high quality, 14 (31.8 %) as good, 5 (17 %) as medium, and 8 (18.2 %) as poor quality. On the mDISCERN scale, 24 (54.5 %) were deemed reliable, while 9 (20.5 %) were unreliable. Videos created by physicians, academic institutions, and reputable health information websites scored higher on both mDISCERN and GQS compared to other sources. A strong positive correlation was found between mDISCERN and GQS scores (r = 0.925, p < 0.001), indicating that higher reliability was linked to better content quality.

Conclusion

YouTube offers valuable resources for HFS patients and caregivers. Videos produced by healthcare professionals and academic institutions offered particularly accurate insights, enhancing patients’ understanding of the condition’s pathophysiology and treatment options, and serving as a useful complement to healthcare professionals’ knowledge. Healthcare professionals and academic institutions have a pivotal role in creating and promoting high-quality educational content. Future efforts should focus on increasing the availability of reliable, expert-verified videos to improve overall quality of information accessible to patients.