Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
Published on: March 23, 2019
Online Curves: A Quality Analysis of Scoliosis Videos on YouTube
Peter F Staunton1, Joseph F Baker, James Green
1*Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland †University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Study Design:
A cross-sectional study.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of online scoliosis information available on the video sharing site YouTube.
Summary Of Background Data:
The Internet is an increasingly utilized resource for accessing information about a variety of heath conditions. YouTube is a video sharing platform used to both seek and distribute information.
Methods:
A search for "scoliosis" was carried out using YouTube's search engine and data were collected on the first 50 videos returned. A JAMA score to determine currency, authorship, source and disclosure, and scoliosis-specific score that measures the amount of information on the diagnosis and treatment options (as devised by Mathur et al in 2005; scored 0-32) was recorded for each video to measure quality objectively. In addition, the number of views, number of comments, and feedback positivity was documented for each. Data analysis was conducted using R 3.1.4/R Studio 0.98 with control for the age of each video in analysis models.
Results:
The average number of views per video was 71,152 with an average length of 7 minutes 32 seconds. Thirty-six percent of the videos fell under the authorship category of personal experience. The average JAMA score was 1.32/4 and average scoliosis specific score was 5.38/32. There was a positive correlation between JAMA score and number of views (P = 0.003). However, in contrast, there was a negative correlation between scoliosis-specific score and number of views (P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
Online health information has historically been poor and our study shows that in an environment like YouTube that lacks a peer review process, the quality of scoliosis information is low. Further work is needed to determine whether accessing information on YouTube can play a role in patient care other than simple education pertaining to the disease and its management.
Level Of Evidence:
3.
More Related Videos
07:01Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Assisted Scoliosis-Specific Exercise in Mild-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Published on: December 2, 2025
06:28Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
