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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Abstract Award
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Poster Session 3

Category: Digital Health Technologies (DHT)

Poster Session 3

(828) Evaluating Quality of Content on In Utero Myelomeningocele Repair Across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  

    Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

  • Kai Holder, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

    Resident Physician
    UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

    • Coauthor(s)

  • FK

    Faith Kehinde, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

  • PS

    Prottusha Sarkar, MBA, MD

    Resident Physician
    University of New Mexico
    Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

  • TD

    Tiffany Deihl, MD

    Assistant Professor
    UPMC Magee Womens Hospital
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Objective:
Social media platforms are increasingly used by high-risk obstetric patients seeking information on complex prenatal conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels as educational resources on in utero fetal surgery for myelomeningocele.

Study Design:
A systematic search of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels was conducted using a public account and expert-identified keywords related to fetal myelomeningocele repair. For each platform, the first 60 videos per keyword were screened, and unique videos were analyzed. Each video was independently evaluated using an expert-derived content score and the DISCERN instrument, a validated tool for evaluating consumer health information. Videos scoring ≥5 (content) and ≥39 (DISCERN) were classified as high quality. Descriptive statistics and intergroup comparisons were performed using Bonferroni-adjusted Mann-Whitney U tests. 

Results:
A total of 467 videos were analyzed: YouTube (n=179), TikTok (n=220), and Instagram Reels (n=68). Mean DISCERN scores were highest on YouTube (27.92 ± 10.47), followed by Instagram Reels (20.88 ± 8.27) and TikTok (19.96 ± 6.16); all p < 0.001. Mean content scores followed a similar pattern: YouTube (2.85 ± 2.64), Instagram Reels (0.94 ± 1.53), and TikTok (0.68 ± 0.96); all p < 0.001. Only 12 videos (2.57%) met high-quality criteria: YouTube (n=11; 6.15%), Instagram Reels (n=1; 1.47%), and TikTok (n=0; 0.00%).

Conclusion:
While YouTube had the highest overall video quality, high quality content was nearly absent on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Given that in utero myelomeningocele repair is a complex intervention within the setting of high-risk obstetric care, access to accurate, high-quality educational content may significantly influence patient understanding and decision-making. As short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels are widely used by obstetric patients, targeted efforts to improve the quality of information on these platforms are essential to support informed counseling and timely decision-making.