Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2020; 78(10): 611-616
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20200077
Articles

Analysis of YouTube as a source of information for restless leg syndrome

Análise do YouTube como fonte de informação para a síndrome das pernas inquietas
Adalet ARIKANOGLU 
1   Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
,
Melike DEMIR 
2   Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
,
Mehmet Ufuk ALUCLU 
1   Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Background: YouTube is one of the major resources for health related videos around the world. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of information available on YouTube about restless leg syndrome (RLS). Methods: A YouTube search was carried out on https://www.youtube.com for videos pertaining to "restless leg syndrome" by using the keyword "restless leg syndrome". The first 100 relevant videos were included in the study. The videos were accepted as "useful" if they provided scientifically correct information about any aspect of RLS. The videos containing scientifically unproven information are defined as "misleading". The overall quality of all videos was subjectively graded using the global quality scale (GQS), a 5-point Likert scale. Results: The median video length for the included videos was 3.39 (0.11-85) minutes, and the median views were 6,055 (32-2351490). The median GQS of useful videos was 3 (1-5). The median number of likes and the median number of comments of personal experience videos were significantly higher than that of the useful and misleading videos. Videos uploaded by the university hospitals frequently issued pharmacological treatment of the RLS; however, those uploaded by practitioners, individual users, and TV or social media accounts were about the non-pharmacological treatment of the RLS. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that 77% of the videos uploaded on YouTube regarding RLS are in the useful category, whereas only 16 videos were providing misleading information. However, even videos in the useful category do not provide a full and complete description of the RLS.

RESUMO

Introdução: O YouTube é um dos principais recursos no mundo para vídeos relacionados à saúde. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade das informações disponíveis no YouTube sobre a síndrome das pernas inquietas (SPI). Métodos: Realizou-se uma busca no YouTube (https://www.youtube.com) para vídeos pertencentes à ‘síndrome das pernas inquietas’ usando a palavra-chave ‘síndrome das pernas inquietas’. Os primeiros 100 vídeos relevantes foram incluídos no estudo. Foram aceitos como ‘úteis’ vídeos que fornecessem informações cientificamente corretas sobre qualquer aspecto da SPI. Os vídeos que contêm informações não comprovadas cientificamente são definidos como ‘enganosos’. A qualidade geral de todos os vídeos foi avaliada subjetivamente usando a escala de qualidade global (GQS), uma escala Likert de 5 pontos. Resultados: A duração média dos vídeos incluídos foi de 3,39 (0,11-85) minutos e as visualizações médias foram de 6.055 (32-2.351.490). A GQS média dos vídeos úteis foi 3 (1-5). O número médio de curtidas e o número médio de comentários de vídeos de experiências pessoais foram significativamente maiores do que os de vídeos úteis e enganosos. Vídeos enviados por hospitais universitários frequentemente divulgam tratamento farmacológico da SPI; no entanto, aqueles carregados por profissionais, usuários individuais e contas de TV ou mídia social eram sobre o tratamento não farmacológico da SPI. Conclusões: Este estudo demonstrou que 77% dos vídeos carregados no YouTube sobre a SPI estão na categoria útil, enquanto apenas 16 vídeos forneceram informações enganosas. No entanto, mesmo os vídeos na categoria útil não fornecem uma descrição extensa e completa da SPI.

Keywords:

Restless Legs Syndrome - YouTube - Information

Palavras-chave:

Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas - YouTube - Informação

Authors’ contributions:

Concept: AA, MD.; Design: AA, MD, MUA; Supervision: AA, MD; Materials: AA, MD; Data collection and/or processing: AA, MD, MUA; Literature search: AA, MD; Writing: AA, MD.




Publication History

Received: 25 March 2020

Accepted: 06 May 2020

Article published online:
13 June 2023

© 2020. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • References

  • 1 Rizek P, Kumar N. Restless legs syndrome. CMAJ. 2017 Feb;189(6):E245. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160527
  • 2 Allen RP, Picchietti DL, Garcia-Borreguero D, Ondo WG, Walters AS, Winkelman JW, et al. Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease diagnostic criteria: updated International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) consensus criteria--history, rationale, description, and significance. Sleep Med. 2014 Aug;15(8):860-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.03.025
  • 3 Stamelou M, Edwards MJ, Espay AJ, Fung VS, Hallett M, Lang AE, et al. Movement disorders on YouTube--caveat spectator. N Engl J Med. 2011 Sep;365(12):1160-1. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc1107673
  • 4 Şahin A, Şahin M, Türkcü FM. YouTube as a source of information in retinopathy of prematurity. Ir J Med Sci. 2019 May;188(2):613-7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-018-1902-2
  • 5 Leong AY, Sanghera R, Jhajj J, Desai N, Jammu BS, Makowsky MJ. Is YouTube useful as a source of health information for adults with type 2 diabetes? A South Asian perspective. Can J Diabetes. 2018 Aug;42(4):395-403.e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.056
  • 6 Gupta HV, Lee RW, Raina SK, Behrle BL, Hinduja A, Mittal MK. Analysis of YouTube as a source of information for peripheral neuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2016 Jan;53(1):27-31. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24916
  • 7 Kim R, Park HY, Kim HJ, Kim A, Jang MH, Jeon B. Dry facts are not always inviting: a content analysis of Korean videos regarding Parkinson's disease on YouTube. J Clin Neurosci. 2017 Dec;46:167-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2017.09.001
  • 8 Bernard A, Langille M, Hughes S, Rose C, Leddin D, Veldhuyzen van Zanten S. A systematic review of patient inflammatory bowel disease information resources on the World Wide Web. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Sep;102(9):2070-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01325.x
  • 9 Drozd B, Couvillon E, Suarez A. Medical YouTube videos and methods of evaluation: literature review. JMIR Med Educ. 2018 Jun/Jul;4(1):e3. https://doi.org/10.2196/mededu.8527
  • 10 Hucíková A, Babic A. Medical informatics idle YouTube potential. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2017;238:132-5. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-781-8-132
  • 11 Madathil KC, Rivera-Rodriguez AJ, Greenstein JS, Gramopadhye AK. Healthcare information on YouTube: A systematic review. Health Informatics J. 2015 Sep;21(3):173-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458213512220.
  • 12 Cassidy JT, Fitzgerald E, Cassidy ES, Cleary M, Byrne DP, Devitt BM, et al. YouTube provides poor information regarding anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018 Mar;26(3):840-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-017-4514-x
  • 13 Erdem MN, Karaca S. Evaluating the accuracy and quality of the information in kyphosis videos shared on YouTube. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2018 Nov;43(22):E1334-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.20200077202000772691
  • 14 Koller U, Waldstein W, Schatz KD, Windhager R. YouTube provides irrelevant information for the diagnosis and treatment of hip arthritis. Int Orthop. 2016 Oct;40(10):1995-2002. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-016-3174-7
  • 15 Winkelmann J, Allen RP, Högl B, Inoue Y, Oertel W, Salminen AV, et al. Treatment of restless legs syndrome: evidence-based review and implications for clinical practice (Revised 2017). Mov Disord. 2018 Jul;33(7):1077-91. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.27260