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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
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Published on: January 6, 2023
Platform-mediated patient access to apical surgery information on Chinese short-video platforms: a cross-sectional
Wang Ting1, Duan Hongyu2, Zhou Guokai2
1Department of Endodontics, Shanghai Xuhui District Stomatological Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Introduction:
Short-video platforms are increasingly utilized as preliminary sources of oral health information, yet the clinical value of patient-facing content varies across platforms. This study evaluated and compared the educational usability, clinical accuracy, transparency, and misinformation risk of apical surgery videos across four major Chinese social media platforms.
Methods:
A standardized search using the term "" (apical surgery) was conducted on March 15, 2026, across TikTok, Bilibili, Kwai, and WeChat Channels. To minimize algorithmic bias, newly registered accounts under default sorting criteria were used to select 150 consecutive eligible videos per platform (N = 600). Videos were evaluated using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT), a study-specific 12-item clinical accuracy checklist, and JAMA benchmarks. Multivariable linear regression identified independent predictors of clinical accuracy.
Results:
Bilibili and WeChat Channels demonstrated significantly higher educational usability and clinical accuracy than TikTok and Kwai (P < 0.001). Median PEMAT understandability scores were 85% for Bilibili and 82% for WeChat Channels, versus 68% for TikTok and 70% for Kwai. Mean clinical accuracy scores (out of 24) were 20.1 ± 2.8 and 19.5 ± 3.0 for Bilibili and WeChat Channels, compared to 12.4 ± 3.2 for TikTok and 12.6 ± 3.4 for Kwai. Sourcing transparency was generally deficient; only 9.2% of the total sample provided references to evidence sources. Severe misinformation was significantly more prevalent on Kwai (18.7%) and TikTok (15.3%) than on Bilibili (4.0%) and WeChat Channels (5.3%) (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis confirmed that professional uploader status (β = 3.85, P < 0.001) and longer video duration (β = 1.72 per 60 s, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of superior clinical accuracy.
Conclusion:
Patient-directed information regarding apical surgery is highly heterogeneous and strongly modulated by platform ecology. Public health initiatives should encourage qualified endodontic professionals to actively participate in video creation and advocate for platform environments that privilege balanced, source-verified clinical communication.