YouTube® in Spanish as a source of information for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Introduction and aim: The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seek information about their disease on the Internet. The reliability, comprehensiveness, and quality of said information in Spanish has not previously been studied.

Materials and methods: An analytic observational study was conducted that included YouTube® videos on IBD available in Spanish, describing general characteristics, engagement, and sources. Standard tools for evaluating reliability (DISCERN), comprehensiveness, and overall quality (Global Quality Score, GQS) were employed.

Results: One hundred videos were included. Eighty-eight videos consisted of information produced by healthcare professionals (group 1) and 12 included patient opinions (group 2). There were no differences in the median scores for reliability (DISCERN 3 vs 3, p = 0.554) or comprehensiveness (3 vs 2.5, p = 0.768) between the two groups, but there was greater overall quality in the group 2 videos (GQS 3 vs 4, p = 0.007). Reliability was higher for the videos produced by professional organizations (DISCERN 4; IQR 3-4), when compared with healthcare information websites and for-profit agencies (DISCERN 3; IQR 2.5-3.5) (p < 0.001), but the videos with healthcare information website and for-profit sources had a higher quality score (GQS 3 vs 4, p < 0.001). Comprehensiveness scores were similar.

Conclusion: The majority of YouTube® videos in Spanish on IBD have good reliability, comprehensiveness, and quality. Reliability was greater for the videos produced by professional organizations, whereas quality was higher for those created from healthcare information websites and for-profit agencies.

Keywords: Colitis ulcerosa; Crohn’s disease; Educación del paciente como asunto; Enfermedad de Crohn; Medios de comunicación sociales; Patient education as a topic; Social media networking; Ulcerative colitis.