YouTube as a source of information for obstructive sleep apnea

Sameer K Singh; Stanley Liu; Robson Capasso; Robert C Kern; Christopher J Gouveia

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2018.03.024

YouTube as a source of information for obstructive sleep apnea

Am J Otolaryngol. 2018 Jul-Aug;39(4):378-382. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2018.03.024. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Authors

Sameer K Singh¹, Stanley Liu², Robson Capasso², Robert C Kern³, Christopher J Gouveia⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: sameer.singh@northwestern.edu.
² Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.

PMID: 29605236
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2018.03.024

Abstract

Purpose: Assess the quality of information on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presented on YouTube for patients.

Materials and methods: "Obstructive sleep apnea" was entered into the YouTube search. Two independent reviewers categorized and analyzed videos utilizing a customized scoring-system along with search position, likes, and views.

Results: Forty-eight videos were analyzed. Most were educational (52.1%). Educational and news videos had significantly higher scores, but had no significant differences in search position, likes/day, or views/day. Most videos mentioned positive airway pressure (65%), and nearly half (44%) mentioned mandibular devices in the management of OSA. Few videos discussed surgery (13%) or otolaryngology (15%).

Conclusion: YouTube is a promising source of information for OSA patients. Educational and news videos are of highest quality. General quality measures like search position, views, and likes are not correlated with formally scored value. Sleep surgery and otolaryngologists are minimally mentioned, representing an opportunity for improvement.

Keywords: Internet; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnea; Sleep surgery; YouTube.

MeSH terms

Data Accuracy
Humans
Internet*
Patient Education as Topic*
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / diagnosis
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / etiology
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / therapy
Video Recording*