A cross-sectional study analyzing 186 short videos about IgA nephropathy on TikTok and Bilibili found that overall medical information quality was only moderate. The research, published in Scientific Reports, highlights significant gaps in disease education and inconsistent accuracy across platforms.
IgA nephropathy, or Berger's disease, is a chronic kidney condition caused by deposits of immunoglobulin A in the kidneys, leading to inflammation and progressive renal damage. As more patients turn to short-form video platforms for health information, researchers assessed whether the content available offered reliable guidance.
Videos were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), JAMA benchmark criteria, and the Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI). Healthcare personnel consistently uploaded videos with higher reliability and educational quality compared to individual users. Monologue-style presentations outperformed other formats.
TikTok videos achieved higher VIQI visual presentation scores than Bilibili and generated more user engagement. While better-presented videos attracted more interaction, popularity did not necessarily reflect medical accuracy or reliability.
Crucial information on disease causes and financial burden was often missing. Researchers warn this could restrict public understanding and long-term disease management. They recommend increased healthcare professional participation, improved visual communication, and stronger platform recommendation systems to enhance educational value.