Educational quality of YouTube cartoonvideos on children’s tooth brushing: across-sectional content analysis
PEERJ, cilt.14, ss.21738, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 14
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.7717/peerj.21730
- Dergi Adı: PEERJ
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), BIOSIS, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.21738
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Yozgat Bozok Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background. YouTube is one of the most widely accessed digital platforms forhealth-related information, particularly among children exposed to animated content.However, the educational quality of cartoon-based videos on children’s tooth brushingremains uncertain. This study evaluated the educational value and content characteristics of YouTube cartoon videos related to children’s tooth brushing.Methods. A cross-sectional content analysis was conducted on the first 200 videosretrieved on December 28, 2025, using the keywords ‘‘children,’’ ‘‘tooth brushing,’’ and‘‘cartoon.’’ After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 109 videos were included.Educational quality was assessed using previously published criteria and categorizedinto four levels. Inter-rater reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlationcoefficient (ICC). Associations between educational score and video characteristics wereexamined using Spearman correlation and ordinal logistic regression.Results. Most videos were classified as slightly useful, and only one video (0.9%) wascategorized as highly useful. The mean educational score was 2.04 ± 1.37. Toothbrushing demonstrations and daily brushing frequency were commonly presented;however, essential preventive topics such as appropriate toothpaste amount, parentalsupervision, floss use, and recommended starting age were frequently absent. Interrater reliability was good (ICC = 0.76). A weak but significant negative correlationwas observed between video duration and educational score (r = −0.195, p = 0.042).Ordinal logistic regression showed that longer video duration was independentlyassociated with lower odds of higher educational quality (OR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.11–0.99], p = 0.048). No significant associations were found between educational score andviews, likes, interaction index, or upload duration. Cartoon-based YouTube videoson children’s tooth brushing demonstrate limited educational quality despite highaccessibility. Popularity metrics do not reflect educational value, underscoring the needfor evidence-based, structured digital oral health content for childr