YouTube Videos Are a Moderately Comprehensive, Reliable, and Quality Option to Learn About “Multiple Sclerosis and Sexuality”

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the performance, comprehensiveness, reliability, and quality of English-language YouTube videos addressing the subject of multiple sclerosis and sexuality.

Methods

In August 2023, a search was conducted on a computer using the keywords “multiple sclerosis and sexuality,” “multiple sclerosis and sexual health,” “multiple sclerosis and sexual health problems,” and “multiple sclerosis and sexual dysfunction” for this descriptive study. According to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 38 videos that met the research purpose were examined. The related URLs were recorded. For each video, the following information was collected: content producers, performance with YouTube statistics, comprehensiveness with a form developed by researchers, reliability with Singh’s Reliability Evaluation Form, and quality with Global Quality Scale. Two researchers independently evaluated the videos.

Results

Eighty-nine and a half percent of the videos contained information presented by professionals. The average number of views was 2699.132 ± 3382.848, the comprehensiveness score was 4.2 ± 1.711, the reliability score was 3.184 ± 1.182, and the quality score was 3.421 ± 1.2. Nearly half (42.2%) contained good and useful information for viewers, and half (50%) had high video quality. The reliability and quality scores of videos containing each item in terms of comprehensiveness were higher compared to videos that did not include that item (p < 0.05). In addition, the videos with higher comprehensiveness scores had higher quality and reliability scores (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These results underscore the constrained performance attributes of YouTube videos addressing multiple sclerosis and sexuality, with their content exhibiting a moderate level of comprehensiveness, reliability, and quality. These results may provide a basis for increasing the effectiveness of YouTube videos on multiple sclerosis and sexuality.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• reliability
• sexuality
• YouTube
• quality

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.