Raj Mohan Ram Mohan, MD, Sai Reshma Magam, MD, Sai Greeshma Magam, MD, Melvin Joy, MD, Dilman Natt, MD, Winghang Lau, MD, Abhishek Tadikonda, MD, Leeza Pannikodu, MD, Jiten Desai, MD, Krishnaiyer Subramani, MD, Paul Mustacchia, MD, MBA Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY
Introduction: This study examines the varying impact of YouTube videos on Ulcerative Colitis (UC) from academic and private institutions. While academic channels offer evidence-based, scientifically vetted information, private sources may lack rigorous scrutiny and sometimes prioritize commercial or anecdotal content. With YouTube's massive user base, the absence of an editorial process can result in misinformation. This content quality and credibility discrepancy can significantly affect patient education and treatment outcomes for UC.
Methods: We searched YouTube using the keywords "Ulcerative Colitis" and "UC IBD" to identify relevant videos. Exclusions were made for videos that were not in English, irrelevant, or lacked audio. We documented various video attributes such as views, likes, dislikes, comments, and the nature of the source (academic or private). The videos were then classified as reliable or unreliable based on the scientific accuracy of their content. We employed DISCERN, Global Quality Score (GQS), and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to evaluate video quality. The consistency among seven investigators in applying DISCERN, GQS, and PEMAT was measured using intraclass correlation.
Results: We reviewed 103 YouTube videos in the search results, of which 54 (52.3%) were academic and 49 (47.6%) were private. Academic videos received higher DISCERN scores than private ones (31±7.5 vs. 23.64±5.07, p=0.018). The Global Quality Score was also higher for academic videos compared to private (3.9 vs. 2.2, p< 0.01), and the PEMAT score was higher for academics compared to Private (4.1 vs. 2.7, p= 0.022). Furthermore, academic videos were found to have a positive correlation with the number of likes (OR: 0.75, P< 0.001), subscribers (OR:0.68, P< 0.0001), and views (OR:1.52, P< 0.001).
Discussion: Our study reveals significant quality discrepancies in YouTube videos on Ulcerative Colitis. Academic sources consistently outperformed private ones in accuracy and reliability, as indicated by higher DISCERN, Global Quality Score, and PEMAT ratings. The data also showed a positive correlation between academic sources and user engagement metrics like likes, subscribers, and views. These findings highlight the necessity of directing patients to academically-backed information to minimize the risk of misinformation.
Figure: Comparison of YouTube Video Quality on Ulcerative Colitis
Note: The table for this abstract can be viewed in the ePoster Gallery section of the ACG 2024 ePoster Site or in The American Journal of Gastroenterology's abstract supplement issue, both of which will be available starting October 27, 2024.
Disclosures:
Raj Mohan Ram Mohan indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Sai Reshma Magam indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Sai Greeshma Magam indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Melvin Joy indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Dilman Natt indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Winghang Lau indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Abhishek Tadikonda indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Leeza Pannikodu indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Jiten Desai indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Krishnaiyer Subramani indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Paul Mustacchia indicated no relevant financial relationships.
Raj Mohan Ram Mohan, MD, Sai Reshma Magam, MD, Sai Greeshma Magam, MD, Melvin Joy, MD, Dilman Natt, MD, Winghang Lau, MD, Abhishek Tadikonda, MD, Leeza Pannikodu, MD, Jiten Desai, MD, Krishnaiyer Subramani, MD, Paul Mustacchia, MD, MBA. P0869 - YouTube Transforms Learning: Pioneering Health Education on Ulcerative Colitis, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.