Evaluation of YouTube videos on complementary feeding: Content quality and reliability analysis

YouTube is an online platform that parents frequently use to access information on child health. Parents' watching YouTube videos to have information on complementary feeding requires evaluation of the videos regarding child health. This study which was conducted in descriptive design, aimed to analyze YouTube videos' content quality and reliability on complementary feeding. Searched by matching keywords "starting", "beginning", "introducing", "solid food", and "complementary feeding" through boolean operators in the English language on YouTube, on August 2022. The search identified 528 videos related to complementary feeding. Two independent researchers analyzed the content of 61 videos that met the inclusion criteria. The content quality of the videos was evaluated using the Checklist for Complementary Feeding (CCF), which was prepared by researchers in line with international guidelines, the reliability of the videos was analyzed using the DISCERN, and the content quality was evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS). Of the 61 videos included, 38 (62.3%) were informative, and 23 (37.7%) were misleading. The kappa value among independent observers was 0.96. The mean GQS, DISCERN, and CCF scores of the videos grouped as informative were significantly higher than the videos grouped as misleading (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively). There was a significant difference between the mean scores of GQS and DISCERN according to the publication source of the videos (p = 0.033 and p = 0.023, respectively). The GQS and DISCERN mean scores of the Ministrial/Academic/Hospital/Healthcare Institution channel videos were higher than the mean scores of the Individual/Parents content channel videos. Videos on YouTube about complementary feeding have high viewing rates, but also videos that are low in terms of quality and reliability.