YouTube® on carbohydrate counting for diabetes management: a quality and content analysis of Arabic videos

YouTube® is a widely used platform for health information; however, the reliability of its content remains uncertain. This study assessed the quality and content of Arabic YouTube® videos on carbohydrate counting (CC), an essential skill for managing diabetes. A cross-sectional survey of YouTube® Arabic content related to CC was conducted. YouTube® Data Tools were used to conduct systematic searches to harvest Arabic-language CC-related videos. The tool provided a list of videos, and we examined the top 108 search results to determine if they met the preset inclusion criteria. Fifty-three of these videos met the requirements and were grouped based on the speaker type, message kind, and information source. Less than half of the speakers (47.2%) were specialized dietitians/nutritionists. Most videos (85%) had educational content with overall quality ranging from moderate to high. Videos presented by dietitians/nutritionists had the highest reliability score compared to other speakers’ groups (44.0%). The analysis conducted in this paper found a significant correlation between video reliability and the presence of dietitians/nutritionists (p = 0.039). Dietitians and nutritionists consistently presented the most scientifically rigorous information on carbohydrate counting, achieving the highest reliability scores. The findings highlight the need for higher-quality educational materials from credible sources and experts to enhance diabetes management and reduce variability in quality across Arabic YouTube® videos on CC for individuals with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).