title: YouTube as a source for parents' education on early childhood caries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients can and do search the Internet for information on various health-related topics. YouTube™ is one popular website they may consult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the quality of information offered by YouTube™ for patients seeking information on early childhood caries (ECC).
  
  
  METHODS
  YouTube™ was searched for videos on ECC. The usefulness of selected videos in providing adequate information about ECC was evaluated using a 13-point usefulness score. The guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry were used for benchmarking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most videos were uploaded by healthcare professionals (60%, n = 18). Videos had generally low usefulness scores (mean: 5.1 ± 2.9; range: 1-11). An average YouTube™ video on ECC was viewed two times/day (range: 0.07-34.4 views/day). Less useful videos ranked early on the viewing list, and viewer's interactions with videos were not affected significantly by their usefulness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YouTube™ should not be used as a trusted site for educating patients on ECC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.|Department of Dentistry, The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Rawan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: ElKarmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, School of Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Yazan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hassona
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taimeh
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Crispian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scully
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000592:standards; D003731:Dental Caries; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*