Assessing Viewer Engagement and Content Quality of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Videos on YouTube: A Comparison of Academic and Private Contributions

Aims YouTube has become a vital educational tool for disseminating information on eosinophilic esophagitis, with videos from both academic and private institutions significantly influencing public understanding and clinical management of the condition. This study examines the differences in quality and viewer engagement between these two sources, emphasizing their role in enhancing awareness and educating both the general public and healthcare professionals about eosinophilic esophagitis

Methods We utilized a dataset comprising 101 YouTube videos (51 Academic and 40 Private) related to Eosinophilic esophagitis. We performed independent t-tests to compare these metrics between Academic and Private videos, assessing statistical significance with p-values. We used correlation analysis and multiple regression models to examine the impact of likes, subscribers, and comments on the total number of views for both Academic and Private videos. Finally, we visualized the data using boxplots for score comparisons, scatter plots for regression analysis, and a heatmap to illustrate correlations among variables.

Results In our study comparing 51 Academic to 50 Private Eosinophilic esophagitis-related YouTube videos, significant differences were found in DISCERN scores (Academic: mean 3.85, SD=1.17 vs. Private: mean 2.00, SD=1.05; t(19)=6.82, p<0.0001), Global scores (Academic: mean 3.67, SD=0.92 vs. Private: mean 2.34, SD=0.72; t(19)=7.20, p<0.0001), and PEMAT scores (Academic: mean 3.92, SD=1.01 vs. Private: mean 1.96, SD=0.91; t(19)=8.03, p<0.0001). No significant differences were noted in subscribers (p=0.18) or total views (p=0.13). Regression analyses indicated that likes significantly influenced views (Academic: coefficient=98.51, p<0.0001; Private: coefficient=63.76, p=0.007)

Conclusions The study highlights a notable disparity in content quality between Academic and Private YouTube videos on eosinophilic esophagitis, with academic sources consistently delivering more reliable and informative content as evidenced by higher DISCERN and PEMAT scores. This disparity underscores the need for guidelines to enhance the quality of private video content, ensuring that all information shared is both accurate and helpful. The significant role of 'likes' in influencing viewer engagement also suggests that popularity metrics can impact the educational reach of videos, potentially prioritizing engaging content over purely educational quality.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. März 2025