Does YouTube provide adequate information about orthodontic pain?

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the content and quality of information about orthodontic pain on YouTube.

Materials and methods: YouTube was searched using the keywords "orthodontic pain" and "brace pain." A total of 65 videos were chosen for the final analysis. Videos were classified into high- and low-content groups using an eight-point scoring system and reviewed according to selected orthodontic pain-related topics. Video quality was rated by the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI) and Global Quality Scale (GQS). Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS 28.0 software, Mann-Whitney U-tests, χ2 tests, and Spearman correlation coefficients.

Results: Most YouTube videos related to orthodontic pain were low content (86.2%), and a few were high content (13.8%). Pharmacological pain relief was the most prevalent topic (50.8%), followed by duration of pain (32.3%) and influence of pain on patient quality of life (29.2%). The least-mentioned topic was possible location of pain (7.7%). Most of the videos were uploaded by laypeople (64.6%). Videos uploaded by dental professionals had significantly higher means of GQS scores (P = .035), flow of information (P < .001), information quality (P = .008), and total VIQI (P < .001). Compared with low-content, high-content videos had a higher mean of flow of information (P = .037). There was a weak correlation between total content and GQS scores and a strong correlation between GQS and VIQI scores (r = 0.740; P < .01).

Conclusions: Overall, YouTube was found to be an inadequate source of information on orthodontic pain.