Nutritional Guidance for the Older Adults on YouTube: An Analysis of Video Quality, Reliability, and Source Credibility

Abstract

Nutritional issues such as malnutrition, obesity, and dehydration are prevalent among older adults, posing serious health and economic challenges. YouTube is a popular platform for health information, but concerns remain regarding the accuracy and reliability of its content. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the quality, reliability, comprehensiveness, and accuracy of nutrition-related YouTube videos targeting older adult audiences. A total of 1,001 YouTube videos were initially identified using six different search keywords. After applying predefined exclusion criteria, 49 videos were deemed eligible and included in the final analysis. Two academic dietitians independently assessed the videos using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), the modified DISCERN instrument (mDISCERN), and the Geriatric Nutrition Scoring System (GNSS), which was specifically developed for the purposes of this study. Although no statistically significant overall differences were found (p > .05), most videos were of moderate quality (36.7%) and lacked reliability (57.1%). According to GNSS, only 30.6% of the videos demonstrated good comprehensiveness and accuracy. High-quality videos were primarily produced by professional organizations (50%) and healthcare professions (37.5%) (p < .05), yet these videos received limited audience engagement. The majority of analyzed videos were of moderate quality, exhibited low reliability, and lacked sufficient comprehensiveness and accuracy. While professional sources produced the highest quality content, these videos failed to attract significant viewer attention. These findings highlight the need for healthcare professionals to play a more prominent role in creating and promoting high-quality, reliable content on platforms like YouTube.