Potential Reinforcement of Health Misconceptions in YouTube Videos: Example of Elbow Enthesopathy (Tennis Elbow)

We evaluated the prevalence of potential reinforcement of common unhealthy misinterpretations of bodily sensations in social media (YouTube videos) addressing elbow enthesopathy (eECRB, enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis brevis, tennis elbow).

We recorded video metric data on 139 unique YouTube videos when searching "lateral epicondylitis" and "tennis elbow." We designed a rubric to assess the level of potential reinforcement of unhelpful thinking in videos about eECRB. Informational quality was scored with an adapted version of the DISCERN instrument. We then assessed the factors associated with these scores.

Sixty-five percent (91 of 139) of videos contained information reinforcing at least one common misconception regarding eECRB. Potential reinforcement of misconceptions was associated with longer video duration, higher likes per day, and higher likes per view. No factors were associated with information quality scores.

These findings of a high prevalence of potential reinforcement of misconceptions in YouTube videos, in combination with the known associations of misconceptions with greater discomfort and incapability, point to the potential of such videos to harm health. Producers of patient facing health material can add avoidance of reinforcement of unhelpful thinking along with readability, accuracy, and relevance as a guiding principle.