Scoring criteria:
The DISCERN instrument was used to evaluate the videos. The DISCERN tool was developed in 1999 in order to systematically judge the quality of patient information literature used to explain treatment options (7). The tool consists of 16 questions about both the reliability of the publication as well as the quality of information. Each question was rated from 1 to 5 with higher score representing more comprehensive explanation. The total score ranged from 16 to 80. Although the DISCERN tool was originally designed for written material, it has been used in the assessment of YouTube videos in medicine and also in otolaryngology (8-10).
In addition to this, an Essential and Ideal Video Completeness (EIVC) Criteria was developed by the senior authors (NP and NJ) to be the minimum information points required by a patient to make an informed decision regarding consent for cholesteatoma treatment (Table 1). The three senior authors (NP, NJ and HC) have a combined experience of over 20 years in otologic practice in managing cholesteatoma. Audiovisual quality was assessed as either adequate or inadequate by the reviewers.
All videos were independently scored by the three senior authors (NP, NJ and HC). The scores were then collated by the fourth author (RR) to perform the statistical analysis.