Key result
TikTok videos on Takotsubo syndrome demonstrate poor information quality and reliability.
Why the study?
The incidence of Takotsubo syndrome has been increasing and its prognosis appears poorer than previously thought, but the quality of information about it on TikTok remains largely unknown.
Cross-Sectional (n=80)
The quality of patient education videos regarding Takotsubo syndrome on TikTok is generally poor, though videos by professionals score slightly higher.
Low-quality TTS videos on TikTok warrant caution against patient reliance; leaves open whether verified professional content improves accuracy.
BACKGROUND The incidence of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as broken heart syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy, has been increasing. The understanding of its prognosis has been progressively evolving and currently appears to be poorer than previously thought which has attracted the attention of researchers. An attempt to recognize the awareness of this condition amongst the general population drove us to analyze the dissemination of this topic on the popular platform, TikTok. We found a considerable number of videos regarding TTS on TikTok, however, the quality of the presented information remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE To analyze the quality and audience engagement of TTS-related videos on TikTok. METHODS Videos on the TikTok platform were explored to identify those regarding TTS by using six Chinese keywords that represented “Takotsubo syndrome” on August 2, 2021. A total of 2,549 videos were found, out of which 80 met our inclusion criteria and were evaluated for their characteristics, content, quality, and reliability. The quality and reliability were rated using the DISCERN instrument and JAMA criteria, by two reviewers independently and a score was assigned. Descriptive statistics were generated and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The scores assigned to the selected video content were found to be low with regard to the diagnosis (0.66/2) and management (0.34/2) of TTS. The evaluated videos were found to have an average score of 36.93 out of 80 on the DISCERN instrument, and 1.51 out of 4 per the JAMA criteria. None of the evaluated videos met all JAMA criteria. The quality of relayed information varied by source (All p< .05). TTS-related videos made by professionals accounted for 27.5% of all evaluated videos and had the highest DISCERN scores with an average of 40.59 out of 80. CONCLUSIONS The quality of patient education videos regarding TTS on TikTok is poor. Patients should be cautious when obtaining health-related information through TikTok. The formulation of a measure for video quality review is necessary especially when the purpose of the published content is to educate and increase awareness of a health-related topic.
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Liang et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Takotsubo syndrome (n=80). TikTok videos was evaluated on Quality and reliability rated using DISCERN instrument and JAMA criteria. TikTok videos regarding Takotsubo syndrome demonstrated poor information quality, with an average DISCERN score of 36.93 out of 80 and a JAMA score of 1.51 out of 4.
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