Evaluating the Information Quality of YouTube Videos on Manual Medicine/Therapy

This study evaluates the educational quality and reliability of manual medicine/therapy-related YouTube videos to determine their suitability for information seekers and their potential use in manual therapy education. A cross-sectional analysis of 113 YouTube videos related to manual medicine/therapy was conducted. Video characteristics, including likes, dislikes, view count, duration, and speaker profile, were assessed. Popularity, educational quality, and reliability were evaluated using the Video Power Index (VPI), Global Quality Scale (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and modified DISCERN tool. No significant differences were found among speaker groups (physicians, physiotherapists, osteopaths & chiropractors) in assessment parameters. Videos on “Manipulation” and “Mobilization/Stretching/Examination” received more likes and views than “General Information” videos. Video duration positively correlated with JAMA, GQS, and mDISCERN scores, indicating higher educational quality in longer videos. However, overall educational quality and reliability were moderate to weak. The study underscores the need for content creators to enhance the educational quality of manual medicine/therapy videos. Practical application-oriented content is popular, and quality video resources can serve as a valuable complement to hands-on instruction in manual therapy education. 1.This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of YouTube videos on manual medicine/therapy, highlighting no significant superiority in educational quality and reliability among videos from different professional speakers.2.This research fills a gap by offering a broad perspective on the educational value of these videos, which has not been explored in such depth previously.3.Despite moderate to weak overall educational quality and reliability, videos focusing on practical applications such as manipulation and mobilization/stretching/examination are more popular and frequently viewed. This suggests that such content might serve as an effective supplement to manual therapy training and also proves valuable in demonstrating to patients the procedures involved in manual therapy, enhancing their understanding and engagement with treatment protocols.4.Enhancing video content quality could significantly benefit manual therapy education by providing high-quality, reliable resources that complement traditional educational methods, especially in demonstrating practical technique