Allergy, asthma providers should guide patients to reliable nutritional information online

Key takeaways:

• 65% of YouTube videos about nutritional care for the atopic triad were misleading.
• Only 13.7% of videos about asthma on TikTok were medically accurate.
• Patient education should address online information.

Information about nutritional treatment for the atopic triad on YouTube tends to be dubious, with a recent study of 91 videos by Høj et al. classifying 65% of them as misleading and only 32% of them as useful.

The researchers also said that the median quality of the useful videos was fair and that the median quality of the misleading videos was very poor, based on the DISCERN scale, which is used to assess medical information.

It does not surprise me that the available information on the nutritional treatment of the atopic triad on YouTube is of poor quality and contains a high proportion of misleading content.

While there are certainly many valuable and informative resources available on YouTube, the platform is also known to contain a significant amount of misinformation on a wide range of topics, including health and nutrition.

Furthermore, the nutritional treatment of the atopic triad, which includes eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma, is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a thorough understanding of the underlying causes and contributing factors. It is unlikely that such complex information can be conveyed effectively through short YouTube videos, which are often geared toward entertainment rather than education.

Therefore, it is important for patients to seek out reliable and trustworthy sources of information with their health care providers before making any significant changes to their diet or treatment plan.

Unfortunately, misinformation also is available on other platforms beyond YouTube. The internet is a vast space where anyone can publish and share information, and not all sources are reliable or trustworthy, especially on social media where platforms have been known to spread misinformation about health topics. This can have serious consequences.

For example, I investigated asthma information on TikTok and found very similar results. Only 13.7% of the videos analyzed were deemed medically accurate and more than 50% of videos were categorized as for entertainment or personal experiences. Furthermore, only 9.8% of the videos analyzed were uploaded by a medical professional practitioner.

In addition to social media, there are many websites that sell health-related products or services and may use deceptive or misleading marketing tactics to promote their products, making it difficult for consumers to separate fact from fiction. The key is to approach online health information with a critical eye and to carefully evaluate the source and quality of the information before believing everything you read online.

My advice for doctors who want to point their patients toward quality online information is to first know your sources. It is important to be familiar with reputable sources of information online. By being familiar with sources that are credible and medically accurate, you can more easily direct patients to information that is reliable and trustworthy.

Another recommendation would be to provide guidance to your patients. Don’t just tell your patients to look online for information. Provide them with guidance about what to look for and where to look. This can include recommending specific websites or resources, as well as offering guidance on what types of information are most relevant to their needs.

And lastly, I encourage doctors to always follow up with their patients about how they are getting their health information. After directing patients to online resources, doctors should follow up with them to ensure that they have found the information they need and to answer any questions they may have. This can help ensure that your patients are getting medically accurate information to make informed decisions about their health.

I recommend finding and utilizing reputable sources such as the CDC, NIH, academic institutions and professional medical organizations. Make sure to look for information that is based on scientific evidence and peer-reviewed research. Be wary of sources that make unsupported claims or promote products or services. Also, consider the credentials of the author or organization. Finally, always consult with your health care provider or a qualified medical professional if you have questions or concerns about the information you find online and before you make any decision regarding your health.

Reference:

• Martel T, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.12.572.

For more information:

Tori Martel, MPH, can be reached at tmartel@allergyasthmanetwork.org.