Evaluation of Online Information on Bruxism in Children: A Study on YouTube™ Videos

Aim: Bruxism in children is a common health issue that causes discomfort in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, negatively affecting daily activities and quality of life. As individuals increasingly turn to online platforms for health information, the accuracy and reliability of this information become crucial. This study aims to evaluate the content and quality of online information on bruxism in children, facilitating access to accurate and reliable patient information and aiding in more informed decision-making regarding treatment options. Material and Method: This study searched the term 'Bruxism in Children' on YouTube™, evaluating the first 100 relevant videos and selecting 18 videos for further analysis. Data on view count, video length, time since upload, likes and dislikes, number of comments, uploader, interaction index, and views were recorded. The Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), and Global Quality Scale (GQS) assessed patient viewers' medical accuracy, content quality, understandability, and suitability. Results: Most videos were uploaded by health professionals and educators. However, videos uploaded by health professionals did not have significantly higher GQS scores than those uploaded by patients. When categorized by the source of upload, videos from health professionals did not score significantly higher in reliability than other groups. Conclusion: There is a scarcity of videos on bruxism in children on the YouTube™ platform, providing limited benefits and insufficient information. Despite expectations for more accurate information from health professional-produced content, these professionals must upload more comprehensive and understandable videos.