Quality and Reliability of YouTube Videos on the Periodontal Tunnel Technique and Their Coverage of Procedure-Specific Content: A Cross-Sectional Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the quality, reliability, and informational content of YouTube videos (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, California, United States) related to the periodontal tunnel technique and to examine technique-specific surgical content coverage. Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study included 22 YouTube videos that met the inclusion criteria.The videos were independently evaluated by three periodontists using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, DISCERN, and a study-specific 16-item Tunnel Content Score developed with reference to the literature and expert consensus.Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Fleiss' κ.Mean scores from the three reviewers were used in the main analyses.Associations between quality scores and video engagement metrics were assessed using Spearman correlation analysis, and differences according to uploader type were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. ResultsInter-rater reliability was moderate for GQS and JAMA and excellent for DISCERN and the Tunnel Content Score.Median scores were 3.00 for GQS, 1.00 for JAMA, 38.00 for DISCERN, and 10.17 for the Tunnel Content Score.GQS was strongly correlated with DISCERN (ρ=0.737;p<0.001), while DISCERN was moderately correlated with the Tunnel Content Score (ρ=0.494;p=0.026).No significant associations were found between video engagement metrics and quality scores, and no significant differences were observed according to uploader type (all p>0.05).Tunnel preparation and papilla preservation were included in all videos, whereas postoperative care and complications were absent.Recession classification (9.1%) and indications (31.8%) were less frequently represented. ConclusionYouTube videos related to the periodontal tunnel technique showed variability in quality, reliability, and content coverage.Technical procedural steps were more prominently represented, whereas content related to clinical decision-making and postoperative patient management was more limited.Therefore, these videos may be considered supplementary materials supporting structured clinical education and scientific sources.Studies with larger samples may contribute to supporting these findings.
Source: Cureus
Institution: Adıyaman University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214302122