TY - JOUR

T1 - The migraine landscape on YouTube

T2 - A review of YouTube as a source of information on migraine

AU - Saffi, Hillah

AU - Do, Thien Phu

AU - Hansen, Jakob Møller

AU - Dodick, David W.

AU - Ashina, Messoud

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Introduction: YouTube is the most widely used video hosting website in the world; however, the quality and reliability of information is unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the content and distribution of the most popular videos on YouTube about migraine. Methods: We searched for migraine-related videos on the online video hosting resource YouTube (https://youtube.com/). Two authors screened the titles and video descriptions independently for all videos with a view count of ≥ 10,000 views. For each video we recorded descriptive data, the source/author and the primary purpose/content. Results: We identified 351 eligible videos. In total, there was more than 3 days of content viewed more than 163 million times. Only 9% of these videos were authored by healthcare professionals. The majority (44%) of videos focused on complementary and alternative medicine. Discussion: YouTube provides a wide array of easily accessible information on migraine, ranging from authoritative sources to potentially questionable content. If used uncritically, this may result in inadequate clinical management. Peer-reviewed information on migraine mechanisms and treatment is needed to provide the best available evidence for the public and patients. Ideally, a professional society or foundation such as the International Headache Society would develop, curate, and distribute content.

AB - Introduction: YouTube is the most widely used video hosting website in the world; however, the quality and reliability of information is unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the content and distribution of the most popular videos on YouTube about migraine. Methods: We searched for migraine-related videos on the online video hosting resource YouTube (https://youtube.com/). Two authors screened the titles and video descriptions independently for all videos with a view count of ≥ 10,000 views. For each video we recorded descriptive data, the source/author and the primary purpose/content. Results: We identified 351 eligible videos. In total, there was more than 3 days of content viewed more than 163 million times. Only 9% of these videos were authored by healthcare professionals. The majority (44%) of videos focused on complementary and alternative medicine. Discussion: YouTube provides a wide array of easily accessible information on migraine, ranging from authoritative sources to potentially questionable content. If used uncritically, this may result in inadequate clinical management. Peer-reviewed information on migraine mechanisms and treatment is needed to provide the best available evidence for the public and patients. Ideally, a professional society or foundation such as the International Headache Society would develop, curate, and distribute content.

KW - advocacy

KW - consumer health information

KW - Digital

KW - education

KW - online

KW - social media

KW - Twitter

U2 - 10.1177/0333102420943891

DO - 10.1177/0333102420943891

M3 - Review

C2 - 32703016

AN - SCOPUS:85088455643

VL - 40

SP - 1363

EP - 1369

JO - Cephalalgia

JF - Cephalalgia

SN - 0800-1952

IS - 12

ER -