Educational value and reliability of exosome therapy videos on youtube: a cross-sectional quality assessment

Abstract

Exosome therapy has emerged in recent years as a promising acellular approach for the treatment of tissue regeneration and wound healing. Initial preclinical investigations have demonstrated accelerated fibroblast proliferation, improved angiogenesis and reduced scar formation. It is evident that patients are more likely to gain an understanding of these treatments and acquire information from digital platforms as opposed to from peer-reviewed scientific publications. This study assessed the credibility and instructional merit of exosome therapy content on YouTube, a prominent source of online health information. A crosssectional study was performed on the initial 50 videos in English obtained using the keyword ‘exosome therapy’ (15 July 2025). The videos were independently assessed by two plastic surgeons and a dermatologist using three validated scoring systems. The scoring system was based on the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reference criteria for transparency and reliability, the Global Quality Score (GQS) for overall educational quality and the modified DISCERN tool for content reliability and balance. The median scores obtained were consistently low (DISCERN: 2.67; GQS: 2.67; JAMA: 2.00). However, videos created by doctors exhibited a statistically significant higher average score compared to videos published by patients, companies and YouTubers (p<0.05). A robust positive correlation was identified between DISCERN and GQS (ρ=0.95, p<0.001). Despite the substantial experimental evidence that confirms the efficacy of exosome therapy for acute and chronic wounds, none of the videos addressed the recognised wound healing applications of exosome therapy. In contrast, the contents primarily focus on cosmetic enhancement, anti-ageing interventions and beauty-related applications. The discrepancy between the scientific advancements in the fields of regenerative medicine, dermatology and plastic surgery and the accessibility of online educational resources, highlights the necessity for professional health organisations to furnish accessible, evidence-based materials that accurately demonstrate the therapeutic potential of exosomes in wound healing.