The spreading information of YouTube videos on Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors: a worrisome picture from one of the most consulted internet source

Several previous studies on YouTube TM information on medical topics have already been published. The current study aimed to evaluate the quality information of YouTube TM videos on Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5-is). A systematic search on YouTube™ was conducted using 30 keyword combinations. For each keyword’s combination, the first 50 videos were recorded. The quality of videos on YouTube™ was assessed with Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audio‐visual content (PEMAT A/V), DISCERN score and a specified created Misinformation tool. According to the selection criteria, 229 YouTube™ videos were suitable for the analyses. Videos were stratified according to the five main identified topics: sildenafil [ n = 98; 42.79%] vs tadalafil [ n = 50; 21.83%] vs vardenafil [ n = 44;19.21%] vs avanafil [ n = 17; 7.42%] vs PDE5-is in general [ n = 20; 8.73%]. The median overall PEMAT A/V Understandability score and Actionability score were 55% (interquartile range [IQR]: 42–75) and 0% (IQR = 0–67), respectively. Specifically, according to our stratification, YouTube Videos on avanafil reached higher values of both Understandability and Actionability (72.7% and 66.7, respectively) in contrast to other categories. According to DISCERN tool, the total overall median score was 29.5 (IQR = 18–41). According to Misinformation scale, the item 1 (‘sexual stimulation’) harboured an overall median score of 2 (IQR = 1–2); the item 2 (‘side effects’) an overall median score of 2 (IQR = 1–3); the item 3 (‘treatment choices’) an overall median score of 1 (IQR = 1–2); the item 4 (‘contraindications’) an overall median score of 2 (IQR = 1–2). YouTube™ is a fast and open-access source for mass information. The overall quality of the PDE5-is contents provided is sadly unsatisfactory. Nowadays, YouTube™ cannot be recommended as a reliable source of information on PDE5-is.