YouTube as an Information Resource on Heat-Related Illness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Heatwaves, intensified by climate change, have increased the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable populations. As YouTube becomes a key source of health information, concerns have emerged regarding the credibility of its content. Hence, this study evaluated the content characteristics, educational quality, and reliability of Korean-language YouTube videos on heat-related illnesses. A total of 177 videos were systematically extracted and analyzed. Videos were assessed for uploader type, content, and speaker. Educational quality and reliability were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale and the modified DISCERN scale, respectively. The results indicated that broadcast media were the most common uploaders (67.8%). Most videos addressed symptoms (96.0%), causes (93.2%), and prevention (91.5%), with seasonal peaks in the summer. Videos from non-broadcast sources had higher educational quality compared with those from broadcast media, but the latter displayed slightly higher reliability. Videos featuring non-health care speakers had higher educational quality than did those featuring health care speakers. Overall, YouTube videos on heat-related illnesses vary in quality and reliability. For nurses involved in patient and community education, these findings highlight the need for critical appraisal of online health information and active participation in creating accessible and accurate digital health content to improve digital health education.