MP46-18 A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION OF YOUTUBE AS AN INFORMATION SOURCE FOR MALE INFERTILITY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: YouTube (YT) is the most popular internet video sharing platform. Patients, providers and other stakeholders use YT to share information and discuss medical conditions. We evaluated YouTube videos (YTVs) focused on male infertility to assess information quality on YT and spotlight themes presented in YTVs in order to identify high quality content that can reliably facilitate care. METHOD(S): The top 50 YTVs based on relevance were identified using the keyword "male infertility." A standardized checklist, adapted from AUA guidelines and addressing pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of male infertility was developed to assess YTV content. 2 investigators extracted YTV features, including duration, likes, views, days on YT, classified creators and assessed YTVs via the checklist. YTVs were graded and ranked based on checklist scores and stratified by content and creator. RESULT(S): A total of 42 YTVs were included; 8 non-English YTVs were excluded. Higher grades were associated with shorter duration (p=0.0305) (Table 1). Most YTVs (23/42, 55%) were created by healthcare-related organizations. 31% (13/42) of YTVs explicitly defined infertility as an inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. 48% of YTVs (20/42) indicated that infertility is exclusively a male issue, while 45% (19/42) indicated that both partners contribute. 90% (38/42) of YTVs discussed evaluation of male infertility, including history (25/38), physical (18/38), and diagnostic tests (38/38), including semen analysis in all YTVs. 71% (30/42) of YTVs discussed infertility management including nonsurgical interventions (21/30), surgical treatments (14/30), and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) (13/30). 14% (6/42) of YTVs produced by healthcare providers addressed ART, compared to 42% (18/42) of YTVs created by patients. CONCLUSION(S): Various content creators have adopted YT as a platform to discuss male infertility. Healthcare professionals should be vigilant of the influence YT may have on patient awareness and understanding of the condition. Knowledge gaps identified in YTVs such as limited discussion about the timeline for receiving a male infertility diagnosis can help improve patient counseling and enable providers to direct patients to accurate and reliable sources of information for the condition on YT. (Table Presented).