Social awareness to reduce emergency department admissions: Analysis of YouTube videos on pesticide poisoning

Pesticide poisoning is a significant public health concern that presents critical challenges worldwide. Because of the widespread agricultural use and the ease of access to these chemicals, they present significant acute and chronic health risks. With the rise of digital media, platforms like YouTube have become increasingly used to raise awareness about health issues. This study sought to assess the quality and reliability of YouTube videos on pesticide poisoning using a cross-sectional analytical method. A total of 100 English-language videos were reviewed, with 53 videos that met the inclusion criteria. Videos were evaluated considering their producer type, content quality, and adherence to international health guidelines. Metrics such as the number of views, likes, comments, and video duration were also recorded. Content was scored across seven categories: general information, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, acute poisoning, chronic poisoning, and prevention, with a maximum total score of 100. Results showed that videos were produced by private organizations (52%), official institutions (13%), and healthcare professionals (11%). Videos created by healthcare professionals had significantly higher scores in critical categories, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and acute poisoning management (p<0.05). YouTube has the potential to serve as a platform for disseminating information about pesticide poisoning but requires significant improvements in content quality and reliability. Encouraging healthcare professionals and official organizations to produce high-quality content, along with targeted changes to prioritize credible sources through improved algorithms, could help reduce misinformation. Such efforts have the potential to foster a more informed society while also decreasing emergency room visits related to poisoning incidents.