Is YouTube a Reliable Source for Laryngomalacia Information?

Objective The goal of our study was to assess information pertaining to laryngomalacia on YouTube. Methods On February 6, 2022, YouTube (www.youtube.com) was searched for "laryngomalacia," and the first 100 videos based on "relevance" were included. Videos were excluded if they did not discuss laryngomalacia or if the audio was not in English. Two medical students independently viewed and analyzed each video. Each video was evaluated for author, category, goal, video quality, audio quality, and basic YouTube metrics. Videos were also evaluated for specific information about laryngomalacia, including a definition of laryngomalacia, how it is diagnosed, symptoms mentioned, and treatment options. A modified DISCERN criteria score was included to evaluate the quality of information in each video. Results Ninety-five videos were included. The most common video authors were patient caregivers (N = 33, 34.7%). The goal of 31.6% (N = 30) of the videos was to demonstrate the symptoms of laryngomalacia, while 25.3% (N = 24) provided a complete overview of laryngomalacia. Videos made for educational purposes by hospitals and providers were statistically more likely to be of better quality regarding video clarity, text, and graphics (p = 0.001) when compared to videos classified as testimonials and patient caregiver experiences. Moreover, 48.3% (N = 28) of the educational videos were classified as 3/3 for video quality, while 10.8% (N = 4) of the testimonials and patient caregiver experience videos were rated as 3/3. The majority of the videos met only one of the five DISCERN criteria (N = 56, 58.9%). Only one of the videos (N = 1, 1.0%) shared resources with viewers. Conclusion The stridor that often accompanies laryngomalacia can be concerning for parents to witness in their child. When parents and caregivers search for information about laryngomalacia on YouTube, they typically find home videos focused on testimonials and personal caregiver experiences. Referring parents to specific, high-quality social media resources is crucial to reduce misconceptions given the wide variety of presentation and severity of laryngomalacia.