Portuguese-language content about autism spectrum disorder on YouTube: a cross-sectional study

This study evaluated the quality and reliability of information about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) available in Portuguese on YouTube, based on the growing demand for accessible information about ASD and the relevance of digital platforms as sources of health information.

Using a cross-sectional observational study design, videos published in the last 5 years with more than 50,000 views were selected. The analysis consisted of two stages: characterization of the profile of the selected videos and assessment of information quality with the DISCERN Questionnaire.

A total of 48 videos, predominantly produced by healthcare providers and educators, were analyzed. The content of videos made by professionals was of higher quality and reliability compared to videos posted by laypersons and news reports. These findings highlight expertise in the field as a critical determinant of content quality, stressing the importance of relying on expert sources when disseminating information about ASD. The ICD-10 and DSM-V were rarely mentioned, especially in videos by non-professionals, which is indicative of challenges in conveying diagnostic information.

The findings of this study demonstrate the significant potential of YouTube as an educational tool to raise ASD awareness, but also highlight the need for a collaborative approach between content creators, healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers to ensure that the information made available is reliable, accurate, and of high quality. Therefore, we recommend the development of specific guidelines for content creators and the implementation of verification mechanisms for YouTube channels run by subject matter experts.