P-1909. Education Quality of YouTube Videos on MRSA

TL;DR

A study found that most YouTube videos about MRSA are of poor quality, suggesting the need for better standards in online health education.

Contribution

This study evaluates the educational quality of MRSA-related YouTube videos using DISCERN scores from medical professionals of varying training levels.

Findings

The mean total DISCERN score for MRSA videos was 34.4, categorized as 'poor'.

Higher-level medical professionals gave more critical reviews compared to lower-level trainees.

Most MRSA-related YouTube videos were rated as low-quality educational resources.

Abstract

With the growing availability of online health resources, patients can turn to the internet for information about medical conditions. However, the accuracy, reliability, and quality of this content vary widely. YouTube hosts numerous videos on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), produced by healthcare professionals, patients, and media sources. This study assessed the quality and reliability of MRSA-related YouTube videos, as rated by medical students, residents, infectious disease fellows, and an infectious disease attending.Figure 1Mean total DISCERN score of MRSA YouTube videos rated by four levels of medical training. Mean total scores of medical students, residents, and fellows were recorded as the average of scores within the group.Table 1Mean question level DISCERN score of three topic categories of lower-level training groups compared to higher-level training groups. Reliability of information was covered by Q1-8 of DISCERN, quality of information was covered by Q9-15 of DISCERN, and overall quality of the video was covered by Q16 of DISCERN. Each question was scored 1-5.

Mean total DISCERN score of MRSA YouTube videos rated by four levels of medical training. Mean total scores of medical students, residents, and fellows were recorded as the average of scores within the group.

Mean question level DISCERN score of three topic categories of lower-level training groups compared to higher-level training groups. Reliability of information was covered by Q1-8 of DISCERN, quality of information was covered by Q9-15 of DISCERN, and overall quality of the video was covered by Q16 of DISCERN. Each question was scored 1-5.

A YouTube search for "MRSA" identified the top 40 videos based on the “relevance” search qualifier. Two medical students, two internal medicine residents, two infectious disease fellows, and one infectious disease attending independently reviewed each video using DISCERN, a validated tool for evaluating online health information. The tool includes 16 questions rated on a 5-point scale. The questions can be separated into topic categories of reliability of information (Q1-8), quality of information (Q9-15), and overall quality of the video (Q16). Total DISCERN scores categorize videos as 15–28 (very poor), 29–41 (poor), 42–54 (moderate), 55–67 (good), and 68–80 (excellent).

The videos were predominantly rated as low-quality (Figure 1). The mean total DISCERN score across all videos was 34.4 out of 80, which is “poor.” Table 1 shows the mean question level score of the different topic categories. The table compares the two lower-level training groups, medical students and residents, to the two higher-level training groups, fellows and the attending. The higher-level training groups were associated with more critical reviews of the videos.

MRSA-related YouTube videos are widely available, but generally low in educational quality. Healthcare professionals and patients should approach online medical content with caution. Improved standards and oversight for digital health information are essential to ensure patients receive accurate, reliable, and high-quality educational resources.

All Authors: No reported disclosures

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