YouTube User Traffic to Paired Epilepsy Education Videos in English and Spanish: Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Effectively managing epilepsy in children necessitates the active engagement of parents, a factor that is reliant on their understanding of this neurological disorder. Widely available, high-quality, patient-focused, bilingual videos describing topics important for managing epilepsy are limited. YouTube Analytics is a helpful resource for gaining insights into how users of differing backgrounds consume video content. Objective: This study analyzes traffic to paired educational videos of English and Spanish versions of the same content. By examining the use patterns and preferences of individuals seeking information in different languages, we gained valuable insights into how language influences the use of clinical content. Methods: Physician experts created epilepsy management videos for the REACT (Reaching Out for Epilepsy in Adolescents and Children Through Telemedicine) YouTube channel about 17 subjects, with an English and Spanish version of each. The Children’s Mercy Kansas City neurology clinic incorporated these into the department’s educational process. YouTube Analytics enabled analysis of traffic patterns and video characteristics between September 2, 2021, and August 31, 2023. Results: The Spanish group had higher engagement and click-through rates. The English versions of all videos had 141,605 total impressions, while impressions for the Spanish versions totaled 156,027. The Spanish videos had 11,339 total views, while the English videos had 3366. The views per month were higher for the Spanish videos (mean 472, SD 292) compared to the English set (mean 140, SD 91; P