Çağlayan ATEŞ
Anatolian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research - 2025;2(3):124-128
Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the content quality and reliability of information shared in Turkish YouTube videos about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: In May 2025, a search was conducted on the YouTube platform using the keywords "PCOS," "polycystic ovary treatment," and "what is PCOS." The top 100 most-viewed videos from each search were recorded, and after removing duplicate and exclusion criteria-meeting videos, 144 unique videos were included in the analysis. The overall quality of the videos was assessed using the global quality scale (GQS), and the level of reliability was assessed using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) scale. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the statistical analysis. Results: 84.0% of the videos (n=121) were classified as useful, and 16.0% (n=23) were classified as misleading. The median GQS and mDISCERN scores of useful videos were significantly higher than those of misleading videos, mDISCERN (p<0.001). The median duration of useful videos (6.8 minutes) was longer than that of misleading videos (2.3 minutes) (p=0.003). However, the median number of views for misleading videos was significantly higher than that for useful videos (p=0.041). While 65.3% of the videos were uploaded by physicians, 34.8% of the misleading videos were shared by patients or influencers. Conclusion: The popularity of misleading content increases the risk of patients being exposed to misinformation. There is a need to increase scientifically accurate content on digital platforms and improve digital health literacy.
