Evaluation of the content quality of YouTube videos as a source of information on Omicron Symptoms and Prevention

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the comprehensiveness and content quality of the YouTube videos providing information on the symptoms and preventive measures for Omicron. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted on YouTube, resulting in a total of 120 videos being selected for the study based on view count and relevance. The videos were evaluated for their content quality by assessing their adherence with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) approved guidelines. The scores indicate that only 23.3% of videos included all 5 symptoms and 3.1% of videos included all the 6 preventive measures recommended by WHO and CDC. News channels gave out information that was not approved by government healthcare organizations. Individual content creators adhered to the information approved by the certified organizations with 34% of their videos containing information on all the 5 symptoms and 6 prevention guidelines approved by WHO and CDC.