This study aimed to evaluate the quality of recommendations related to the conservative management of epistaxis (nosebleeds) presented in videos shared on YouTube.
Video-sharing platforms are increasingly utilized to disseminate health education messages. A significant portion of the public now relies on digital platforms like YouTube for health-related information. However, the reliability and educational quality of such content remain uncertain, particularly for first-aid topics like epistaxis.
In February 2025, YouTube was searched using the keywords “epistaxis,” “how to stop a nosebleed,” and “first aid for nosebleeds.” Videos were included based on predefined criteria and analyzed for content quality, source of upload, duration, number of views, and visual presentation. Two emergency medicine specialists independently scored the videos on a scale from 0 to 8. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0, with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Out of 320 videos screened, 110 met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 38 (34.5%) were uploaded by healthcare professionals, 19 (17.3%) by public institutions, and 53 (48.2%) by individual users. The mean score was 3.1±1.4. Only 20 videos (18.2%) received a score of 5 or higher and were considered reliable. A statistically significant correlation was found between the video score and the source of upload (p<0.05).
The findings highlight that the majority of YouTube videos on epistaxis management are suboptimal in educational quality. Videos created by healthcare professionals and official organizations tend to be more accurate and reliable. These results underscore the importance of guiding the public toward trustworthy content and encouraging professionals to contribute high-quality educational material to digital platforms.