Quality evaluation of stroke-related information on TikTok: a cross-sectional study

Stroke is a leading cause of global mortality, making accurate health information vital. While TikTok is an influential source for health content, the quality of stroke-related information on the platform is unknown. This study evaluated the quality, reliability, and user engagement of the 100 most-liked stroke-related videos on TikTok. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of videos from January 2025, assessing quality using validated instruments (e.g., GQS, mDISCERN) and categorizing creators. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) produced 34% of videos and achieved significantly higher quality scores (p < 0.001). Misinformation was present in 31% of videos, with significantly lower rates for HCPs (8.8%) compared to content creators (42.2%) and general users (42.9%). Only 23% of videos addressed stroke prevention. Importantly, we found no significant correlation between content quality and user engagement (r = -0.08, p = 0.43), revealing a concerning "engagement paradox". The quality of stroke information on TikTok is highly variable and disconnected from user engagement, posing a risk of misinformation spread. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced content moderation and greater engagement from healthcare professionals to disseminate reliable health information on social media.