The Assessment of TikTok as a Source of Quality Health Information on Human Papillomavirus: A Content Analysis

Abstract

Background Various studies have evaluated the quality of health-related information on TikTok (ByteDance Ltd., Beijing, China), including topics such as COVID-19, diabetes, varicoceles, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, and others. However, there is a paucity of data on studies that examined TikTok as a source of quality health information on human papillomavirus (HPV). This study, therefore, evaluated the quality of health information on HPV on TikTok. Methods The terms "HPV" and "human papillomavirus" were searched on TikTok on a single day in August 2024, and 200 videos were retrieved. Relevant user metrics were collected for each video, including the number of likes, shares, and followers, the video length, and the uploader type. Two independent raters assessed each video regarding the completeness of six types of content (the definition of HPV, symptoms, risk factors, evaluation, management, and outcomes). Then, the two raters independently assessed the quality of information in the videos using the DISCERN instrument. Results Sixty-nine videos met inclusion criteria; 11 were created by general users, 44 by healthcare professionals, and 14 by organizations. Videos uploaded by general users and health professionals have a longer duration (p < 0.001) and more likes (p = 0.048) than those uploaded by organizations. More than 60% of the videos contained little or no content on the HPV content assessed. Although the reliability and quality of treatment choices were higher among videos uploaded by healthcare professionals, the overall quality of HPV health information using the DISCERN instrument was "very poor" (24.2 (±6.92)). Conclusions The overall quality of HPV videos uploaded on TikTok is very poor and not acceptable, thus failing to satisfy public health needs. Healthcare professionals must enhance their social media presence, produce reliable and substantive material, and collaborate with social media platforms and high-engagement accounts to facilitate users' access to high-quality data. TikTok users must recognize that material regarding HPV may lack medical accuracy and should consistently consult healthcare providers for medical guidance.