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Background <p>Breast engorgement is a common and painful condition that can lead to the early cessation of breastfeeding. Many mothers turn to online platforms like YouTube for information and support, but the quality of this content is often unverified. This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos concerning breast engorgement.</p> Methods <p>A systematic search was conducted on YouTube in June 2025 using six relevant keywords. After excluding videos that were non-English, irrelevant, duplicates, “Shorts,” or “vlogs,” 116 videos were included in the final analysis. Three independent researchers evaluated the videos using the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) measurement tool, and the Global Quality Score (GQS). Video characteristics and popularity metrics (views, likes, comments) were also collected. Statistical analysis was performed to compare videos based on uploader characteristics.</p> Results <p>The overall quality of the videos were moderate, with mean scores of 51.78, 2.25, 3.49 for DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS, respectively. Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals (<i>n</i> = 58) had significantly higher quality scores across all instruments (DISCERN: <i>p</i> &lt; .001; JAMA: <i>p</i> = .015; GQS: <i>p</i> &lt; .001), as well as longer durations (<i>p</i> = .007) and more likes (<i>p</i> = .002), compared to those uploaded by non-healthcare creators. While videos uploaded by healthcare professionals received significantly more likes (<i>p</i> = .002), those from non-healthcare sources had significantly higher viewer interaction rates (<i>p</i> &lt; .001) and were more popular in terms of views (<i>p</i> &lt; .05), highlighting a “quality–popularity paradox”. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between views and likes (<i>r</i> = .705, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), and between likes and viewer interaction (<i>r</i> = .613, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). While quality scores were positively correlated with popularity metrics, these associations were weak (e.g., GQS and views: <i>r</i> = .259, <i>p</i> = .005). No significant correlation was found between JAMA scores and popularity indicators (<i>p</i> &gt; .05).</p> Conclusions <p>While YouTube serves as a crucial information resource for mothers experiencing breast engorgement, the most popular videos are often not the most reliable. Therefore, ensuring that mothers receive individualized support in managing conditions like breast engorgement should remain a primary focus. Additionally, strategies to reduce misinformation and the implementation of verification systems for health-related content on platforms like YouTube should be considered.</p>

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Quality and reliability of YouTube videos on breast engorgement

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月3日

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  • Şehma Şen,
  • Meserret Aslan,
  • Ece Nilüfer

摘要

Background

Breast engorgement is a common and painful condition that can lead to the early cessation of breastfeeding. Many mothers turn to online platforms like YouTube for information and support, but the quality of this content is often unverified. This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos concerning breast engorgement.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on YouTube in June 2025 using six relevant keywords. After excluding videos that were non-English, irrelevant, duplicates, “Shorts,” or “vlogs,” 116 videos were included in the final analysis. Three independent researchers evaluated the videos using the DISCERN instrument, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) measurement tool, and the Global Quality Score (GQS). Video characteristics and popularity metrics (views, likes, comments) were also collected. Statistical analysis was performed to compare videos based on uploader characteristics.

Results

The overall quality of the videos were moderate, with mean scores of 51.78, 2.25, 3.49 for DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS, respectively. Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals (n = 58) had significantly higher quality scores across all instruments (DISCERN: p < .001; JAMA: p = .015; GQS: p < .001), as well as longer durations (p = .007) and more likes (p = .002), compared to those uploaded by non-healthcare creators. While videos uploaded by healthcare professionals received significantly more likes (p = .002), those from non-healthcare sources had significantly higher viewer interaction rates (p < .001) and were more popular in terms of views (p < .05), highlighting a “quality–popularity paradox”. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between views and likes (r = .705, p < .001), and between likes and viewer interaction (r = .613, p < .001). While quality scores were positively correlated with popularity metrics, these associations were weak (e.g., GQS and views: r = .259, p = .005). No significant correlation was found between JAMA scores and popularity indicators (p > .05).

Conclusions

While YouTube serves as a crucial information resource for mothers experiencing breast engorgement, the most popular videos are often not the most reliable. Therefore, ensuring that mothers receive individualized support in managing conditions like breast engorgement should remain a primary focus. Additionally, strategies to reduce misinformation and the implementation of verification systems for health-related content on platforms like YouTube should be considered.