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The following is a summary of “Origin of YouTube videos on hereditary angioedema matters,” published in the March 2025 issue of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology by Korkmaz et al. 

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, serious condition requiring reliable information. YouTube provides insights but also risks misinformation. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the popularity, reliability, understandability, actionability, and quality of YouTube videos on HAE. 

They searched YouTube using “HAE” and categorized videos by origin (health, nonhealth) and content type (medical professional education (MPE), patient education (PE), patient experience, or awareness). Quality, reliability, understandability, and actionability were assessed using Global Quality Scale (GQS), Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials (PEMAT-A/V), and the Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN). About 3 independent allergists evaluated the videos. 

The results showed that out of 135 videos, 111 met the inclusion criteria. Health videos had higher scores than nonhealth videos in PEMAT-A/V understandability (83, IQR: 56–92, P=0.001), total DISCERN (37, IQR: 3–45, P<0.001), reliability (23, IQR: 19–26, P<0.001), treatment (15, IQR: 8–21, P=0.007), and modified DISCERN (3, IQR: 2–4, P=0.002). Health videos were uploaded more recently (P=0.006), while awareness videos were older than MPE videos (P=0.002). MPE videos were the longest, awareness videos the shortest (P<0.001). GQS scores were higher in MPE and PE groups (3, 4, 5; P=0.005). MPE videos had the highest PEMAT-A/V (91, IQR: 70.75–92, P<0.001), total DISCERN (40, IQR: 30.75–49.5, P<0.001), reliability (24, IQR: 21–27.25, P<0.001), and moderate to high quality (83, 74.8%, P=0.002). 

Investigators found that YouTube videos on HAE from health care professionals had higher-quality information, but overall reliability remained suboptimal. They emphasized the need for more trustworthy content from professional medical organizations. 

Source: aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13223-025-00947-6