Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jun 19, 2023
Date Accepted: May 20, 2024
Accuracy, Quality, and Misinformation of YouTube Abortion Procedural Videos: A Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
YouTube is commonly used as an easily accessible online resource for patients seeking to learn about medical procedures, including their risks, benefits, and safety profile. Abortion is a common yet polarizing medical procedure. There is no current research that evaluates the accuracy, quality, and misinformation of instructional videos available to patients.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess if any given video can deliver accurate and quality information about this topic in an unbiased manner and to assess the level of factually incorrect, distorted, or medically irrelevant information in any given video.
Methods:
Procedural methods of abortion were queried on YouTube on August 22, 2022. The videos were screened with strict exclusion criteria. Videos were categorized into video slants based on language and attitudes expressed in each video. Video accuracy percent was calculated compared to the Surgical Curriculum in Obstetrics and Gynecology (SCOG) checklist for each corresponding procedure. Video quality was calculated using the LAParoscopic Surgery Video Educational Guidelines (LAP-VEGaS) criteria. Level of misinformation was assessed based on evidence-based “Anti-Choice Rubric.”
Results:
32 videos were analyzed and categorized into three “video slant” groups: neutral (n=23), anti-choice (n=4), and pro-choice (n=5). Using the SCOG checklist, neutral videos had the highest average accuracy percentage of 45.9%, anti-choice videos 24.6%, and pro-choice 18.5%. None of the videos (0/32) met the LAP-VEGaS quality control criteria, (score >11 indicating adequate quality). Neutral slant videos had an average score of 8.8, anti-choice videos 10.75, and pro-choice videos 6.2. Using the “Anti-Choice Rubric,” neutral videos mentioned only 1 factually incorrect piece of information. Anti-choice videos mentioned 12 factually incorrect pieces of information, 8 distortions, and 3 medically irrelevant pieces of information. Pro-choice videos did not mention any of the three themes.
Conclusions:
Using the SCOG checklist, the accuracy of instructional videos were inconsistent across the three identified “video slants.” Using LAP-VEGaS Criteria, the quality of educational videos were also inconsistent across the three “video slants.” Pro-choice videos had the lowest level of misinformation with no mentions of any of the three themes. Anti-choice videos had the highest levels of misinformation with mentions in all three themes. Healthcare professionals and patients should consider this when accessing YouTube videos for information regarding abortion procedures.
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