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Editorial commentary: Is social media a reliable source of information on Peyronie’s disease treatment?

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 34, pages 321–322 (2022)Cite this article

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Digital media interventions and telehealth technologies have gained considerable popularity in recent years and this phenomenon has accelerated in the current global COVID pandemic [1, 2]. Digital health platforms provide greater effectiveness in terms of greater flexibility, cost and information dissemination, as well as potentially offer more opportunities for topic customization and interactivity in a more private environment for transmitting sexual health knowledge and skills [3]. Systematic reviews on digital platforms and blended eLearning showed greater success in terms of educating and promoting sexual health although it is not without inherent biases [4].

This article provides another example of the effectiveness and accuracy of YouTube videos as a form of social media eHealth in healthcare awareness and management for Peyronie’s disease (PD) [5]. Of the screened 700 most viewed YouTube videos on PD treatment, 267 videos were included in the final analysis and the mean duration of videos uploaded was 40 months (from April 2006 and January 2021). While these videos showed high DISCERN Score (3, IQR = 3–4 vs. 1, IQR = 1–2, p < 0.001) and Global Quality Score (5, IQR = 4–5 vs. 2, IQR = 1–3 p < 0.001), there were many videos with inaccurate information especially on conservative treatments such as traction devices and homeopathic treatments. The majority of the videos in the inaccurate information group were uploaded by medical advertisement/for-profit companies (51.2%) and individual users/patients (38.8%), whereas universities/professional organizations/non-profit physician/physician groups constituted the majority in the accurate information group (60.9%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AndroUrology Centre, Brisbane QLD, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Eric Chung

  2. University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Eric Chung

  3. Macquarie University Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Eric Chung

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Correspondence to Eric Chung.

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Chung, E. Editorial commentary: Is social media a reliable source of information on Peyronie’s disease treatment?. Int J Impot Res 34, 321–322 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-021-00475-y

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