Themes, perspectives, and educational quality of content related to #PapSmears on TikTok

To evaluate TikTok videos with the hashtag #PapSmear and analyze their educational quality, themes, tone, creator, and engagement metrics.

A cross-sectional analysis of the top 150 TikTok videos with #PapSmear was conducted in September 2023. Videos were evaluated by four independent reviewers for engagement metrics, video topic, intent, tone, creator, and themes. The educational quality of videos was assessed using the brief DISCERN tool. Statistical analyses were performed to examine differences and relationships across groups.

Among the 150 videos reviewed, 75.3 % focused on Pap smears, while 24.7 % discussed pelvic exams. Patients created 60.7 % of videos while healthcare providers contributed 39.3 %. Videos created by healthcare providers were more likely to be neutral or positive in tone and focus on educational content. Videos created by patients tended to have a negative tone, often focusing on personal experiences or comedy. Negative tones were significantly associated with higher engagement by "likes" and "shares" compared to neutral and positive tones. DISCERN scores were low across all videos. Healthcare provider videos did not score significantly higher than patient-generated content (p > 0.05). 10 % (n = 15) of videos addressed trauma related to a Pap smear or pelvic exam.

Our analysis of the top 150 TikTok videos with #papsmear shows low educational quality across all creators, highlighting the difficulty of providing accurate health information on social media. To improve the quality and impact of health communication on social media, healthcare professionals might consider integrating relatable storytelling and appropriate humor while still prioritizing medical accuracy and trauma-informed messaging.