Examining the Contents of Pes Planus Exercise Videos and Evaluating Quality and Reliability

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the content of the most-viewed pes planus exercise videos on YouTube^® and evaluate their quality and reliability.

Methods

YouTube was searched with keywords “Pes planus exercises,” “Pes planus rehabilitation,” “Pes planus physiotherapy,” “Flat foot exercises,” “Flat foot rehabilitation,” and “Flat foot physiotherapy.” A total of 360 videos were independently reviewed by 2 evaluators. The URL of the videos, length, publication date, number of views/likes, number of comments, number of subscribers of the video source, video type, and exercise type of the videos were recorded. Video popularity view rate; quality and information content of videos, Global Quality Scale (GQS) and modified DISCERN scale; its reliability was evaluated with the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) comparison score.

Results

Of the 49 videos that met inclusion criteria, 42.85% were of high quality according to GQS. Video length, number of comments, modified DISCERN, and JAMA scores were significantly higher in the high-quality group (P < .05). Other video features were not different (P > .05). The number of likes, comments, views, and subscribers of the videos, and video popularity, were positively correlated with each other at a moderate to high level (P < .001). High quality and reliability were significantly correlated only with longer video length and higher number of comments (P < .05).

Conclusion

The overall quality of pes planus exercise videos on YouTube is low; however, longer videos with active viewer engagement tend to be of higher quality. This highlights the need for clinicians to direct patients to reliable digital resources and for content creators to follow standards.

Level of Evidence:

Level V: Systemic review of nonpeer-reviewed resources