Analysis of Plantar Fasciitis Videos on YouTube: Quality and Reliability Assessment

TL;DR

A study found that most YouTube videos about plantar fasciitis are of low quality, with non-physicians uploading most content and physician-uploaded videos being more reliable.

Contribution

This study is the first to systematically assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on plantar fasciitis using DISCERN and JAMA scoring systems.

Findings

74% of the videos were uploaded by non-physicians.

Videos uploaded by physicians had significantly higher DISCERN and JAMA scores.

Most videos were of low quality and lacked sufficient information.

Abstract

Objective

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and affects a significant portion of the population. Digital platforms such as YouTube play an essential role in patients' searches for health information. However, the accuracy and reliability of the information shared on these platforms are often questioned.

Method

In this study, the first 50 videos searched for "Plantar Fasciitis" on YouTube were evaluated using DISCERN and JAMA scoring systems. Videos were categorized according to uploaders (physicians, physiotherapists, independent users, etc.) and content types (general information, exercise, non-surgical treatment). Video Power Index (VPI) and statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the quality of the content.

Results

74% of the videos were uploaded by non-physicians, and the DISCERN and JAMA scores of the content uploaded by physicians were statistically higher (p<0.01). However, in the overall evaluation, most of the videos were found to be of low quality. The average length of the videos was 7.63 minutes, and most of the content was shared by physiotherapists (46%).

Conclusion

Most YouTube videos about plantar fasciitis contain low-quality content. Although videos uploaded by physicians appear more reliable, a general lack of information can lead to misinforming patients. Healthcare professionals, universities, and institutions should be encouraged to produce accurate educational content. Improving the information quality of digital platforms will help patients make informed decisions.