Quality And Reliability Of YouTube Videos As A Source Of Information About Felon

Introduction: YouTube is easily preferred because it offers people free and readily accessible information. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability, popularity and quality of YouTube videos as a patient‑education resource on felon (finger pulp abscess). Materials and Methods: On 28 December 2024 the keywords “Felon Finger” and/or “Finger Felon” were entered into the YouTube search engine. Of roughly 51 000 results, the first 50 were evaluated. Videos were analysed according to source and content using the Video Power Index (VPI), Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS) and Felon Specific Score (FSS). All scores were assigned independently by three observer surgeons and analysed using their mean values. Results: Comparisons of VPI, JAMA, DISCERN, GQS, and FSS by video source and content revealed significant differences for JAMA, GQS, and FSS according to source, but no significant difference for VPI. Medical‑source videos had significantly lower JAMA scores than those by physicians and non‑physician healthcare workers (p