Chronic low back pain is a condition costing the US healthcare system over $100 billion annually.1

Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used to manage chronic pain syndromes. While interest has been growing in th use of acupuncture, its effectiveness and clinical utility remain controversial.

A recent study evaluating complementary health approaches (CHAs), including massage, yoga, and acupuncture, showed that 70% of LBP patients tried out at least one CHA, while over 40% used at least two.2,3,4

Many of these patients will likely consider YouTube as a potential source of information when researching CHAs such as acupuncture.

Unfortunately, to date, minimal data exists regarding the utility, accuracy, and effectiveness of available information on YouTube, a platform with over 122 million daily active users.5

Our study aimed to bridge this gap in information and vet the quality of information available on YouTube on acupuncture for chronic pain.

Usefulness: Two reviewers assessed videos as useful, misleading, or neutral based on criteria like accurate information on acupuncture definition, pain relief mechanisms, and potential benefits/risks.

• Quality: Evaluated video reliability using a 5 point scoring system (mDISCERN) that considers factors like clear aims, reliable sources, and balanced information. Another system (GQS) assessed overall video quality and usefulness for patients.

• Reviewer Discrepancies: Any disagreements between reviewers on video classification (useful/misleading/neutral) or quality scores were resolved by a third reviewer.