The evaluation and analysis of irritable bowel syndrome‐related short videos on social media (TikTok)

Summary Background TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has recently become a trending topic of interest among TikTok users. Aim To better understand the quality and accuracy of information presented in the most popular IBS‐relevant videos on TikTok. Methods We reviewed videos with the tag ‘IBS’. We excluded those not relevant to IBS or lasting 10 min. Baseline characteristics about the videos were collected. Two independent reviewers assessed each video using DISCERN and Patient Education Materials and Assessment Tool (PEMAT) tools, two validated instruments to assess the quality of patient education materials. Results Of 100 videos, 33% were uploaded by participants with a defined medical background. The median DISCERN score of videos uploaded by participants with a medical background was 2.43 (2.00–3.10); from participants with a non‐medical background, it was 1.37 (1.23–1.70) ( p < 0.01). The median PEMAT Understandability scores of videos uploaded by participants with or without a medical background were 92.86 (86.61–95.00) and 80.95 (75.76–89.58), respectively ( p < 0.01). The median PEMAT Actionability scores of videos uploaded by participants with or without a medical background were 100.00 (66.67–100.00) and 0.00, respectively (0.00–45.83; p < 0.01). Conclusion Videos posted by medical professionals are easier to understand and to act on, and are more reliable and unbiased, and more likely to recommend shared decision making about treatment.