Abstract:BackgroundDengue remains a pressing public health issue worldwide, especially in tropical regions. With the rise of digital health-seeking behavior, YouTube has emerged as a popular but largely unregulated platform for health communication. This study aimed to assess the accuracy, quality, and reliability of dengue-related videos on YouTube using two validated tools: the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) instrument and the Global Quality Score (GQS). MethodsA cross-sectional observational analysis was conducted in May 2025. A total of 454 videos were retrieved using five dengue-related search terms. After applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 107 unique English-language videos were evaluated. Metadata and viewer engagement metrics were extracted. Two reviewers independently scored the videos using mDISCERN and GQS, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis tests, and Spearman correlations were used to assess video performance and quality across uploader types. ResultsNews agencies contributed the most videos (43.9%) but scored only moderate on reliability (14.0% good) and quality (10.3% excellent). Hospitals, health websites, and physician-uploaded videos demonstrated higher mean scores (GQS <¥ 4.0; mDISCERN <¥ 3.1). No significant differences in quality scores were found across uploader types (mDISCERN: P=0.776; GQS: P=0.273). Quality scores were positively associated with video duration (r=0.403, P<0.001) but not with views, likes, or comments. Approximately one-third of the videos demonstrated good reliability (32.7%) and excellent quality (32.7%). ConclusionWhile YouTube hosts valuable dengue-related content, overall quality and reliability vary widely across uploader types. Institutional and physician-generated videos showed the highest educational value but lacked widespread visibility. There is a critical need for interdisciplinary collaboration and platform-level strategies to enhance the reach of evidence-based health content, especially during outbreaks.
Keywords: Global Health Education and Technology, Dengue fever, YouTube, health information quality, digital health communication, video content analysis
