Youtube: An effective web 2.0 informing channel for health education to prevent stds

Abstract

YouTube is a social media venue with great potential as a health education-informing channel. Health educators and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2011) recognize that YouTube enjoys a high level of engagement and comfort among young users. This enhances its educational value for this vulnerable population, who already account for half of the new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) diagnosed annually. It is imperative to reach these users with information about safe sex and sexual risk prevention. In this work, 18-24 year old under-graduates were pre-tested, and half of the participants viewed an entertaining YouTube safe sex education video while the other half viewed a factual YouTube safe sex education video. Post-tests on both groups confirmed YouTube's significant value as a health education-informing channel that fosters knowledge acquisition and provokes healthy future behavior change. This study clarifies user preferences for health education messaging on YouTube, and confirms You-Tube's substantial educational utility, while guiding health educators' effective use of this health education-informing channel.