General information reliability, perceived educational quality, and transparency of YouTube videos on epileptiform discharges: an exploratory cross-sectional study

Electroencephalography (EEG) is central to diagnosing and classifying epileptiform discharges, but interpretation requires structured training. This exploratory cross-sectional study evaluated general information reliability and completeness, perceived educational quality, and transparency of English-language YouTube videos on epileptiform discharges. Although these patterns are described using established electrographic criteria, interpretation may vary, particularly in borderline recordings.

A cross-sectional YouTube search was conducted in May 2025 using five keywords. The first 100 results per keyword were screened and 25 of 500 records met all eligibility criteria. The final sample was limited to narrated, English-language videos lasting 1 to 20 min that were returned by the selected search terms and YouTube ranking system. Two neurologists independently rated the videos using DISCERN as a general reliability indicator, the Global Quality Scale (GQS) for educational quality, and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria for transparency. Exploratory analyses included group comparisons, Spearman correlations, single-measure intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), effect sizes, confidence intervals, and false-discovery-rate-adjusted q values.

Six videos (24%) were from academic/educational channels and 19 (76%) from individual healthcare professionals. Mean scores were 52.1 for DISCERN (95% CI 46.7-57.5), 3.86 for GQS (95% CI 3.58-4.14), and 1.98 for JAMA (95% CI 1.69-2.27). Single-measure ICCs were 0.971, 0.655, and 0.816, respectively. Duration was nominally correlated with GQS (ρ = 0.431, p = 0.031) and JAMA (ρ = 0.553, p = 0.004), and DISCERN with GQS (ρ = 0.496, p = 0.012); none remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction (all q ≥ 0.052).

Among the small subset of eligible videos, general-purpose instruments suggested moderate-to-good average perceived educational quality and information reliability, whereas transparency was limited. Because DISCERN, GQS, and JAMA are not EEG-specific and no qualitative EEG-accuracy, pedagogical, or learner-outcome assessment was performed, the findings are exploratory. These results should not be understood as estimating the quality of all YouTube material related to EEG or epileptiform discharges, nor do they establish EEG-specific accuracy or educational effectiveness. The evaluated videos should therefore be used only as critically appraised adjuncts to expert-supervised EEG training.