Evaluation of the Content of YouTube Videos about Vaginismus

Abstract

Backgrounds: To evaluate the quality of information in YouTube videos about vaginismus. Methods: A search for "vaginismus" was performed on YouTube in January 5, 2019. Two researchers watched and analyzed each video's overall information and scientific content and rated it as good, fair or poor as a co-decision. for their sources, suggestions and information contents (good, fair or poor). Results: Of the three hundred videos viewed on You-Tube, 106 videos were included and analyzed. Mean video length (mean ± standard deviation) was 4.63 ± 2.73 minute. The information content was good only in 19 (17.9%) of all videos while for a majority of them it was poor (44.3% n = 47). There was no relation between the reliability of the videos' contents and their viewings (p = 0.073). Videos uploaded by health professionals were more reliable than those uploaded by laypersons (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study suggests that the videos at You-Tube could not be a reliable source of for patients with vaginismus. Health professions should be encouraged to upload more videos with good content and the patients with vaginismus should be warned about the unedited videos uploaded by laypersons and canalized to watch videos uploaded by health professions.