Cross-sectional evaluation of TikTok video quality on alopecia areata.

Abstract

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition that results in hair loss, significantly impacting quality of life. As TikTok emerges as a major platform for health-related information, concerns about the spread of misinformation have arisen. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the quality, reliability, and understandability of "most liked" AA-related TikTok videos. Videos were categorized as healthcare providers (HP) or non-healthcare providers (NHP). Two reviewers independently assessed the videos, using validated tools - Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for audiovisual content (PEMAT A/V), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI), Global Quality Scale (GQS), and AloCheck, a study-specific content-coverage tool. Among 93 included videos, only 26% were created by HPs, who scored significantly higher across all quality metrics: mDISCERN (3.0 vs. 1.5, p<0.01), GQS (3.5 vs. 1.5, p<0.01), VIQI (13.75 vs. 11.0, p<0.01), and PEMAT A/V (≥10: 66.7% vs. 26.1%, p<0.01). HPs focused on clinical aspects (87.5% vs. 40.6%, p<0.01), whereas NHPs emphasized psychological aspects, such as body image (37.5% vs. 63.8%, p=0.02). Findings reveal a gap between quality and user engagement, highlighting the risk that lower-quality information reaches a wide audience. Bridging this gap is essential to support the delivery of high-quality, reliable, and engaging health information to the public.