Breaking misconceptions: assessing the quality of YouTube videos on penile fracture with validated scoring tool

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of YouTube videos related to penile fracture by applying established rating systems.

A descriptive investigation was carried out by browsing YouTube for videos related to "Penile fracture". Out of a total of 108 videos that were found, 47 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The features and substance of the videos were assessed utilizing the adjusted DISCERN tool, the criteria from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

High-quality videos, as classified by GQS, had more views, likes, and comments than lower-quality videos; however, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In contrast, videos with detailed and accurate content had significantly higher view counts (approximately tenfold) and more likes (approximately twofold) than poor-content videos (p < 0.05). A strong positive correlation was found between content analysis scores and DISCERN (r = 0.815, p < 0.001), JAMA (r = 0.781, p < 0.001), and GQS (r = 0.722, p < 0.001). Videos made by urologists and surgeons demonstrated superior quality across all measured criteria in comparison to those crafted by individuals without healthcare backgrounds (p < 0.001).

The quality of YouTube content addressing penile fracture exhibits a wide range, with content generated by healthcare experts standing out for its high quality. It is imperative for medical professionals to actively engage in disseminating accurate health information on these platforms.