Low quality, limited reliability, and poor educational value of TikTok videos on patellofemoral instability: a cross-sectional analysis

Introduction TikTok videos on orthopaedic topics receive high engagement, but the quality of content on patellofemoral instability is unclear. Objectives To assess the quality, reliability, and educational value of TikTok videos on patellofemoral (PF) instability and compare evaluation scores between videos uploaded by health care professionals (HCP) and private users (PU). Methods TikTok was searched between February 19 to 21, 2026 using terms related to PF instability. Of 801 identified videos, 180 met inclusion criteria. Video characteristics, engagement metrics, and uploader type were recorded. Information quality was evaluated using the DISCERN instrument, reliability using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and educational value using the Global Quality Score (GQS). Associations between video metrics and quality scores were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation, and differences between uploader groups were assessed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results Most included videos were posted by PU (80.0%). Mean DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores were 20.8 ± 17.4, 0.6 ± 1.1, and 1.5 ± 1.1. Video duration showed a weak positive correlation with DISCERN ( r = 0.156; P = .035), whereas likes, shares, and views were not associated with any quality metric (all P > .050). HCP-generated videos demonstrated significantly higher DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores than PU uploads (all P < .001), while engagement metrics were largely similar except for more shares in HCP videos ( P = .002). Conclusions TikTok videos addressing PF instability demonstrated low quality, limited reliability, and poor educational value. Although videos uploaded by HCP achieved higher scores, overall standards remain insufficient for evidence-based patient education.