Getting Smashed Online: a Content Analysis Of Concussion-Related YouTube Videos
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Abstract
Background:
Sport concussion is often poorly understood by athletes with the consequence that they frequently go unrecognised and unreported to Physicians. This leads many individuals to seek information from alternate sources, including popular Social Networking Sites such as YouTube. Internet-based educational videos have been cited as valuable tools in the transmission of best-practice concussion information, however to date there has been no systematic evaluation of concussion-related videos on YouTube. The objective of this study was to describe the content and origins of concussion-related videos on YouTube in order to provide insight into the nature of concussion videos the general public are viewing.
Methods:
YouTube’s video database was systematically searched using 10 search terms selected using a novel dual-search strategy incorporating Google Adwords (to replicate how the public would search for videos) and MeSH terms (to replicate terminology used by health professionals). Videos were included if they contained content related to concussion, depicted a concussion, discussed a concussion, or attempted to provide information about concussion. Exclusion criteria comprised videos that were clearly irrelevant based on the title, did not contain concussion content, promoted a particular product without concussion information, were not in English, or contained inappropriate or offensive content. In the case of video uploads containing identical or very similar content, the most viewed video was retained. Those videos satisfying the inclusion criteria were analysed for the purpose, source, and description of content by a panel of raters (concussion researchers) who classified the video into data-driven themes. Additional data collected included video length, number of views, and number of comments.
Results:
From the 434 videos that met the inclusion criteria, a sample of 100 videos with the largest view counts were chosen for analysis. The most common themes of the videos were the depiction of a sporting injury (such as videos portraying an injury sustained during a sport/leisure activity) and news items (such as videos from a news /media source). Although news and media organisations (51%) were the predominant source of concussion-related videos, consumers also generated a significant proportion of videos (29%). Few videos provided concussion management information in their description.
Conclusions:
The high number of sporting and news items relating to concussion demonstrates that YouTube is being used to disseminate concussion-related information. Consumers are also generating concussion-related content on YouTube themselves which may stimulate discussion and media coverage of concussions that is independent of news organisations and unregulated.
Due to its widespread popularity, YouTube can provide widespread dynamic distribution of public health information and developers of public health messages should collaborate with information technology specialists to ensure videos reach their appropriate audiences. Despite concerns about the regulation of information on YouTube, it still retains a significant potential to aid the transfer of concussion-related knowledge. Future research is needed to evaluate this powerful and interactive medium, and to explore its evolving role as a vehicle in the dissemination of sports medicine information and the education of the general public.
Sport concussion is often poorly understood by athletes with the consequence that they frequently go unrecognised and unreported to Physicians. This leads many individuals to seek information from alternate sources, including popular Social Networking Sites such as YouTube. Internet-based educational videos have been cited as valuable tools in the transmission of best-practice concussion information, however to date there has been no systematic evaluation of concussion-related videos on YouTube. The objective of this study was to describe the content and origins of concussion-related videos on YouTube in order to provide insight into the nature of concussion videos the general public are viewing.
Methods:
YouTube’s video database was systematically searched using 10 search terms selected using a novel dual-search strategy incorporating Google Adwords (to replicate how the public would search for videos) and MeSH terms (to replicate terminology used by health professionals). Videos were included if they contained content related to concussion, depicted a concussion, discussed a concussion, or attempted to provide information about concussion. Exclusion criteria comprised videos that were clearly irrelevant based on the title, did not contain concussion content, promoted a particular product without concussion information, were not in English, or contained inappropriate or offensive content. In the case of video uploads containing identical or very similar content, the most viewed video was retained. Those videos satisfying the inclusion criteria were analysed for the purpose, source, and description of content by a panel of raters (concussion researchers) who classified the video into data-driven themes. Additional data collected included video length, number of views, and number of comments.
Results:
From the 434 videos that met the inclusion criteria, a sample of 100 videos with the largest view counts were chosen for analysis. The most common themes of the videos were the depiction of a sporting injury (such as videos portraying an injury sustained during a sport/leisure activity) and news items (such as videos from a news /media source). Although news and media organisations (51%) were the predominant source of concussion-related videos, consumers also generated a significant proportion of videos (29%). Few videos provided concussion management information in their description.
Conclusions:
The high number of sporting and news items relating to concussion demonstrates that YouTube is being used to disseminate concussion-related information. Consumers are also generating concussion-related content on YouTube themselves which may stimulate discussion and media coverage of concussions that is independent of news organisations and unregulated.
Due to its widespread popularity, YouTube can provide widespread dynamic distribution of public health information and developers of public health messages should collaborate with information technology specialists to ensure videos reach their appropriate audiences. Despite concerns about the regulation of information on YouTube, it still retains a significant potential to aid the transfer of concussion-related knowledge. Future research is needed to evaluate this powerful and interactive medium, and to explore its evolving role as a vehicle in the dissemination of sports medicine information and the education of the general public.
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