Malik Jessen1, Christina Lorenz2, Elisabeth Boehm3, Stefan Hertling4, Maximilian Hinz5, Jan-Philipp Imiolczyk6, Carsten Pelz7, Yacine Ameziane5,8, Sebastian Lappen9. 1. Department of Trauma Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. 2. Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 4. Orthopedic Department of the Waldkliniken Eisenberg, University Hospital Jena, Eisenberg, Germany. 5. Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. 6. Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. 7. Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany. 8. Orthopedic Practice Clinic (OPPK), Münster, Germany. 9. Department of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany. Sebastian.Lappen@tum.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and educational quality of content available on Google and YouTube regarding subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). METHODS: Google and YouTube were queried for English and German results on SAIS using the search terms "shoulder impingement" and the German equivalent "Schulter Impingement". The analysis was restricted to the first 30 results of each query performed. Number of views and likes as well as upload source and length of content were recorded. Each result was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (score range, 0-5) to assess reliability and the DISCERN score (score range, 16-80) and a SAIS-specific score (SAISS, score range, 0-100) to evaluate educational content. RESULTS: The 58 websites found on Google and 48 videos found on YouTube were included in the analysis. The average number of views per video was 220,180 ± 415,966. The average text length was 1375 ± 997 words and the average video duration 456 ± 318 s. The upload sources were mostly non-physician based (74.1% of Google results and 79.2% of YouTube videos). Overall, there were poor results in reliability and educational quality, with sources from doctors having a significantly higher mean reliability measured in the JAMA score (p < 0.001) and educational quality in DISCERN (p < 0.001) and SAISS (p = 0.021). There was no significant difference between German and English results but texts performed significantly better than videos in terms of reliability (p = 0.002) and educational quality (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Information on SAIS found on Google and YouTube is of low reliability and quality. Therefore, orthopedic health practitioners and healthcare providers should inform patients that this source of information may be unreliable and make efforts to provide patients with higher quality alternatives. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and educational quality of content available on Google and YouTube regarding subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). METHODS: Google and YouTube were queried for English and German results on SAIS using the search terms "shoulder impingement" and the German equivalent "Schulter Impingement". The analysis was restricted to the first 30 results of each query performed. Number of views and likes as well as upload source and length of content were recorded. Each result was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (score range, 0-5) to assess reliability and the DISCERN score (score range, 16-80) and a SAIS-specific score (SAISS, score range, 0-100) to evaluate educational content. RESULTS: The 58 websites found on Google and 48 videos found on YouTube were included in the analysis. The average number of views per video was 220,180 ± 415,966. The average text length was 1375 ± 997 words and the average video duration 456 ± 318 s. The upload sources were mostly non-physician based (74.1% of Google results and 79.2% of YouTube videos). Overall, there were poor results in reliability and educational quality, with sources from doctors having a significantly higher mean reliability measured in the JAMA score (p < 0.001) and educational quality in DISCERN (p < 0.001) and SAISS (p = 0.021). There was no significant difference between German and English results but texts performed significantly better than videos in terms of reliability (p = 0.002) and educational quality (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Information on SAIS found on Google and YouTube is of low reliability and quality. Therefore, orthopedic health practitioners and healthcare providers should inform patients that this source of information may be unreliable and make efforts to provide patients with higher quality alternatives. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series.