Short video platforms as sources of information on simple renal cysts: a cross-sectional content analysis

Simple renal cysts are common and usually asymptomatic. Nowadays, short videos on social media have become a major means for obtaining health information. However, there is still insufficient information to evaluate their quality.

In this study, 376 short videos on this topic (ie. simple renal cysts) were selected for a cross-sectional analysis using internationally recognized evaluation tools. The assessment covered content quality, reliability, understandability, and trustworthiness, combined with an analysis of user engagement metrics. The present study was conducted based on data derived from publicly accessible videos on TikTok, Bilibili, Rednote, and Kwai.

Videos created by western-medicine specialists showed significantly higher scores for quality and trustworthiness. In contrast, videos made by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners attracted larger audiences but received lower quality ratings. In addition, content with mention of the Bosniak classification tended to be of higher quality, yet with less user interaction.

Our study reveals a "quality-engagement paradox", in that more accurate and professional content receives less user interaction, while lower-quality videos gain more engagement, thus presenting a challenge for patients to acquire reliable information. Therefore, formulation of platform-specific strategies to improve the visibility and accessibility of trustworthy health content is needed.