Quality and content analysis of syphilis-related short videos on Douyin (TikTok): A cross-sectional study

Douyin (TikTok) has gradually emerged as an important channel through which the public obtains health information. This study aimed to evaluate the content, quality, and reliability of syphilis-related short videos on Douyin.

We conducted two rounds of data collection on Douyin, extracting video duration, engagement metrics, uploader identity, and video content for syphilis-related videos. Video quality and reliability were assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool. Correlation analyses were performed between video metrics and quality scores.

A total of 81 and 95 videos were included in the first and second rounds, respectively. Clinical manifestations were the most frequently discussed topic, whereas key information on diagnosis and prognosis was insufficiently covered. In the first round, the median GQS was 2.00 (IQR: 2.00-3.00), and the median mDISCERN score was 3.00 (IQR: 3.00-3.00). In the second round, the median GQS was 2.00 (IQR: 2.00-2.00), and the median mDISCERN score was 2.00 (IQR: 2.00-2.00). In both analyses, videos uploaded by healthcare professionals had higher GQS and mDISCERN scores than those uploaded by individual users (p < 0.05). No significant correlations were found between video engagement metrics and either GQS or mDISCERN scores in either round (p > 0.05).

The overall quality and reliability of syphilis-related videos on Douyin are suboptimal, and current content may not adequately meet public health information needs. Strengthening the involvement of healthcare professionals and improving content structure are essential to enhance the health education value of short video platforms.