Reliability and Quality of YouTube Videos as a Source of Information About Felon

Çukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi, vol.8, no.3, pp.301-306, 2025 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

Aim: YouTube is easily preferred because it offers people free and readily accessible information. The aim of this

study was to determine the reliability, popularity and quality of YouTube videos as a patient‑education resource

on felon (finger pulp abscess).

Methods: On 28 December 2024 the keywords “Felon Finger” and/or “Finger Felon” were entered into the YouTube

search engine. Of roughly 51 000 results, the first 50 were evaluated. Videos were analysed according to source

and content using the Video Power Index (VPI), Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), Journal

of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS) and Felon Specific

Score (FSS). All scores were assigned independently by three observer surgeons and analysed using their mean

values.

Results: Comparisons of VPI, JAMA, DISCERN, GQS, and FSS by video source and content revealed significant

differences for JAMA, GQS, and FSS according to source, but no significant difference for VPI. Medical‑source

videos had significantly lower JAMA scores than those by physicians and non‑physician healthcare workers

(p < 0.05), but higher GQS and FSS values (p < 0.05). No significant effects of video duration, view count, view‑rate,

or like‑rate were detected. YouTube videos concerning felon were found not to possess adequate reliability or

quality for patients.

Conclusions: Internet use for health information is increasing. Most videos about felon on YouTube® are produced

by non-physicians, but their quality and reliability are lower than those from physicians.

Keywords: Felon; YouTube; online search; internet information