Assessing Vasectomy-Related Information on YouTube: An Analysis of the Quality, Understandability, and Actionability of Information

Abstract

This study aims to critically appraise the quality of vasectomy-related health information currently available on YouTube to better address patient information needs moving forward. A YouTube search was performed using the keyword “vasectomy.” The first 100 videos were assessed, with irrelevant and duplicate videos excluded. Two independent reviewers evaluated the remaining videos using the DISCERN instrument for evaluating the quality of information and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual materials (PEMAT-A/V) for assessing the understandability and actionability of materials. Source characteristics and markers of bias and misinformation were also collected. Seventy-eight videos were included in the study, with a mean duration of 6.6 minutes and mean of 216,672 views. The median DISCERN score was poor at 28 (IQR 22–33) out of a possible 80 with mean PEMAT-AV Understandability and Actionability scores of 67.6% (±16.7%) and 33.8% (±36.2%), respectively. A medical doctor was present in 61 (78.2%) of the videos, of which 53 (86.9%) were urologists and 38 (62.2%) promoted their personal practice or institution. False statements regarding vasectomy were made in 14 (17.9%) videos. Notably, no significant difference was noted in quality, understandability, or actionability of videos created by those with personal promotion to those without. The quality of information regarding vasectomy on YouTube is poor and reaches a wide audience. Continued appraisal and creation of YouTube videos that contain quality, understandable and actionable information by urologists is necessary to ensure patients are well-informed.

Verhütung auf YouTube, Instagram und TikTok

“…Für die in Deutschland unter Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen besonders populären Social-Media-Plattformen YouTube, Instagram und TikTok liegen ebenfalls erste Studien vor. So wurden die Darstellung der männlichen Sterilisation [ 18 ], des Hormonimplantats [ 19 ] und der Spirale [ 20 ] auf der Video-Plattform YouTube inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet, einschließlich YouTube-Videos zur Selbstentfernung von Implantaten und Spiralen [ 21 ]. Auf der Foto- und Video-Plattform Instagram [ 22 ] wurde Werbung für natürliche Familienplanung erforscht.…”

Nutzung und Bewertung von Verhütungsinformationen in Sozialen Medien: Eine Interviewstudie mit Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen

“…Neben internationalen Beiträgen (z. B. Cleland et al 2021 ; Lang et al 2022 ; Le Guen et al 2021 ; Merz et al 2021 ; Nguyen und Allen 2018 ; Paul et al 2014 ) existieren auch erste Befunde zu deutschsprachigen Online-Verhütungsinformationen (Döring 2021 ; Döring et al 2022 ; Döring und Lehmann 2022a , 2022b ).…”

Accuracy of prostate cancer screening recommendations for high‐risk populations on YouTube and TikTok

“…A recent study has shown that patients who rely on the internet as their primary source of health information for prostate cancer are significantly more likely to report decisional regret and a worse‐than‐expected overall treatment experience 18 . Furthermore, many recent studies have found social media and online content about various urologic conditions to be low quality and inaccurate 19–26 . Given the expansive reach of both YT and TK, it is important to understand the scope of health information that is being made publicly available via these platforms.…”

“… 18 Furthermore, many recent studies have found social media and online content about various urologic conditions to be low quality and inaccurate. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 Given the expansive reach of both YT and TK, it is important to understand the scope of health information that is being made publicly available via these platforms.…”