Quality of YouTube videos on Chagas disease: compliance with clinical guidelines

Chagas disease remains a public health problem, and YouTube is used to access health information. This study aimed to assess whether YouTube videos on Chagas disease comply with scientific guidelines. This study analyzed videos identified using terms in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Two independent reviewers assessed eligible videos. Video quality was evaluated using a scale developed and pre-tested by three clinical experts. Comparisons between adequate and inadequate videos were performed using Mann-Whitney or Fisher's exact tests, and associations between variables were assessed using Poisson regression. Among 158 videos screened, 96 were included. For definition, videos from healthcare and academic institutions/professionals showed higher prevalence ratio of adequate quality (1.86; 95% CI 1.14-3.02), as did treatment (3.69; 95% CI 1.67-8.15). Videos in English (0.57; 95% CI 0.34-0.97) and Spanish (0.31; 95% CI 0.16-0.61), and longer duration (0.998; 95% CI 0.995-0.999) were associated with lower quality for definition. Higher numbers of views, likes, and longer duration were associated with higher prevalence of adequate quality for etiology, while longer duration was associated with natural history and with lower prevalence of adequate quality for diagnosis. Most videos showed inadequate quality, highlighting the need for better guideline-based content on YouTube.Registration number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/NXW8H.