Is This the Right Link? How TikTok Views Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

Patients are increasingly turning to online social media networks for healthcare information. This study evaluated content related to oncoplastic breast surgery found on TikTok.

The top 50 videos were retrieved from subsequent TikTok searches for 'oncoplastic breast surgery', 'oncoplastics', and 'oncoplastic surgery'. These videos were compiled and the 50 with the most views were selected. Video characteristics were abstracted, and the videos were analyzed for thematic content by three surgeons and graded for educational value by eight individuals of varying backgrounds.

We focused our analysis on the two most common creator types: surgeons and patients. Both groups showed comparable audience engagement patterns, with no significant difference in the number of views, likes, or comments. However, subscribers, saves, and shares differed significantly, with surgeons showing higher numbers (p < 0.05). Analyzing thematic content by creator type highlights different priorities between the groups. Surgeon videos received significantly higher ratings on questions about providing accurate medical information (p < 0.01) and explaining surgery outcomes clearly (p < 0.05). Surgeons and trainees consistently noted these differences, with 70% of their ratings showing significance in favor of surgeon content. In contrast, non-healthcare raters showed fewer significant distinctions, with only 40% of their ratings identifying differences between creator groups.

While patient creators focus heavily on personal experiences and survivorship, surgeon-created content emphasizes medical accuracy and detailed surgical information. Surgeons can use these findings to better understand the types of information their patients are accessing and to tailor their own educational efforts accordingly.