Quality and reliability of YouTube videos on cardiac rehabilitation exercises: YouTube videos for cardiac rehabilitation exercises

Elif Dilara Durmaz; Cansu Şahbaz Pirinççi; Muhammed Arca; Emine Ci̇han

doi:10.28982/josam.8368

Authors

Elif Dilara Durmaz Karaman Training and Research Hospital, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, Karaman, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5670-8890
Cansu Şahbaz Pirinççi University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3921-0721
Muhammed Arca University of Health Sciences, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Diyarbakır, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8104-4985
Emine Ci̇han Department of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy Program, Vocational School of Health Sciences, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0699-3771

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.8368

Keywords:

Cardiac rehabilitation, Exercise videos, YouTube, Digital health, Quality and reliability

Abstract

Background/Aim: YouTube is widely used by patients and caregivers seeking exercise-related health information; however, the scientific accuracy and clinical reliability of this content remain uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on cardiac rehabilitation exercises for individuals with chronic heart disease.

Methods: A total of 124 YouTube videos were initially screened, and 67 videos that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Video characteristics, including duration, time since upload, views, likes, dislikes, comments, and upload source, were recorded. Each video was assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria, the Global Quality Scale, and the DISCERN score.

Results: The analyzed videos had a mean (SD) view count of 26,720.92 (68,307.01), comment count of 2.79 (7.68), like count of 149.74 (529.59), and dislike count of 0 (0). The total number of views was significantly correlated with the Global Quality Scale score (r = -0.368; P = 0.002) and the DISCERN score (r = -0.279; P = 0.022). Likes, time since upload, video power index, and video duration were not significantly correlated with overall DISCERN, Global Quality Scale, or Journal of the American Medical Association scores (P = 0.071-0.921).

Conclusion: YouTube videos on cardiac rehabilitation exercises demonstrated generally good quality but only moderate reliability. Nevertheless, these findings do not mean that all videos are clinically appropriate for every patient. Individuals should consult a physician or physiotherapist before performing exercises demonstrated in online videos.

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