Information quality and reliability of pheochromocytoma-related videos on tiktok and Kwai: a cross-sectional study.

Authors

Jun Luo, Ziliang Chen, Runfu Cao, Kaihong Wang

Published in

BMC urology. Jul 03, 2026. Epub Jul 03, 2026.

Abstract

Short-video platforms are major sources of health information, yet the quality of pheochromocytoma-related content is unclear. We assessed and compared the quality and reliability of related videos on TikTok and Kwai.
Using the Chinese keyword "," we searched TikTok and Kwai (24-25 Dec 2025) with a newly created account and retrieved the first 120 videos from each platform under the default "comprehensive" ranking. After exclusions, 178 videos were included (TikTok, n = 100; Kwai, n = 78). Video metrics, uploader characteristics, and content features were extracted. Quality and reliability were assessed using GQS (1-5) and mDISCERN (0-5) by two blinded reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. We compared video characteristics and GQS/mDISCERN scores between TikTok and Kwai, and performed subgroup analyses by uploader identity and physician specialty. Nonparametric tests and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted using R 4.1.3.
Median video length was 73.0 s; median GQS and mDISCERN were both 2.0, indicating generally low quality and reliability. Most videos were posted by healthcare personnel (81.5%), predominantly urologists (50.6%). TikTok videos were longer and had higher likes, comments, and collections (all P < 0.001). mDISCERN was higher on TikTok (P = 0.047), while GQS did not differ (P = 0.580). Video length correlated with GQS (r = 0.46) and mDISCERN (r = 0.41), whereas engagement metrics were not reliable proxies for credibility.
Pheochromocytoma-related short videos on TikTok and Kwai show limited quality and reliability despite professional authorship. Improvements should prioritize verifiable sources and decision-relevant risk framing, supported by platform-level quality labeling and distribution strategies.

PMID:
42399874
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.