Evaluating the Quality of Turkish-Language YouTube Videos on Sepsis: Insights into Reliability and Misinformation

Quality of Turkish YouTube Videos on Sepsis

Abstract

Background: Sepsis represents a severe clinical syndrome in which infection triggers a dysregulated host response, leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction and remaining among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. YouTube has emerged as a major source of health information, yet the quality of sepsis-related Turkish-language content has not been systematically examined. This study assessed the quality, reliability, and educational value of Turkish-language YouTube videos related to sepsis.

Material and methods:  A cross-sectional content analysis was performed on the first 100 Turkish-language videos retrieved on 1 August 2025, using the keywords “sepsis türkçe” and “türkçe sepsis”. Non-medical, duplicate, and short-form videos were excluded. Video characteristics, engagement metrics, sources, target audience, and coverage of core sepsis topics were recorded. Two reviewers independently assessed videos using the Global Quality Score (GQS), JAMA Benchmark Criteria, and Modified DISCERN Score (MDS). Comparative analyses examined differences before and after 2020, and correlations were calculated between video features and quality scores.

Results: The mean video duration was 23.7 ± 37.1 minutes (range: 0.4–175.4). Overall quality was low-to-moderate (GQS 2.43 ± 1.37; JAMA 1.32 ± 1.20; MDS 2.42 ± 1.33). Hospitals (38%) and academic institutions (27%) were the main content producers, and 65% targeted the general public. Strong correlations were found between GQS and MDS (r = 0.71) and between JAMA and MDS (r = 0.80). Post-2020 videos were longer, better structured, and had higher quality scores, yet only 18% cited peer-reviewed sources or guidelines.

Conclusion: Turkish-language YouTube videos on sepsis demonstrate considerable variability, yet their overall quality remains suboptimal. Although certain improvements have been observed since 2020, the majority of videos continue to lack transparency and evidence-based referencing. Collaboration between healthcare professionals and digital platforms, adherence to established benchmarks, and technological solutions are needed to strengthen online health communication.