YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19 and dialysis.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has become a serious threat to the global health and spreading rapidly. Dialysis patients may have developed anxiety because of their disease characteristics during this pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and quality of the most viewed English-language YouTube videos on COVID-19 and dialysis link. METHODS: A YouTube search was achieved using the key words "COVID-19 dialysis," "SARS CoV-2 dialysis," "coronavirus hemodialysis," and "COVID peritoneal dialysis." RESULTS: Among the 43 videos analyzed, 24 (55.8%) were high quality, 11 (25.6%) were moderate quality, and 8 (18.6%) were of low quality according to global quality score. Significant differences were found between the groups in modified DISCERN scores and the number of views, likes, comments. CONCLUSION: The most reliable sources such as universities, governments, professional societies should better use YouTube for dissemination of accurate, reliable, and useful health-related information to the general public.