A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok

TikTok has become a hub for easily accessible medical information. However, the quality and completeness of this information for testicular cancer has not been examined. Our study aims to assess the quality and completeness of testicular cancer information on TikTok. A search was performed on TikTok...

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Main Authors: Hoi Pong Nicholas Wong, Lee Jing Yang, Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan, Jamie Yong Qi Lim, Wei Zheng So, Vineet Gauhar, Ho Yee Tiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-06-01
Series:Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/3/28
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author Hoi Pong Nicholas Wong
Lee Jing Yang
Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan
Jamie Yong Qi Lim
Wei Zheng So
Vineet Gauhar
Ho Yee Tiong
author_facet Hoi Pong Nicholas Wong
Lee Jing Yang
Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan
Jamie Yong Qi Lim
Wei Zheng So
Vineet Gauhar
Ho Yee Tiong
author_sort Hoi Pong Nicholas Wong
collection DOAJ
description TikTok has become a hub for easily accessible medical information. However, the quality and completeness of this information for testicular cancer has not been examined. Our study aims to assess the quality and completeness of testicular cancer information on TikTok. A search was performed on TikTok using the search terms “Testicular Cancer” and “Testicle Cancer”. Inclusion criteria encompassed videos about testicular cancer in English. We excluded non-English videos, irrelevant videos, and videos without audio. We evaluated these videos using the DISCERN instrument and a completeness assessment. A total of 361 videos were considered for screening and 116 videos were included. Of these, 57 were created by healthcare professionals (HCPs). The median video length was 40 s (5–277 s), with >25 million cumulative views and a median of 446,400 views per video. The average DISCERN score was 29.0 ± 5.7, with HCPs providing higher-quality videos than non-HCPs (30.8 vs. 5.5, <i>p</i> < 0.05). HCPs also had more reliable videos (21.2 vs. 18.1, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall quality levels were mostly poor or very poor (97.4%), with none being good or excellent. Most HCP videos were poor (63.2%), whilst many non-HCP videos were very poor (61.0%). The most viewed video had 2,800,000 views but scored a 31 on the DISCERN tool and one on the completeness assessment. The highest DISCERN score had 11,700 views. HCP videos better defined the disease and were more complete (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Most videos discussed self-assessment but were lacking in definitions, risk factors, symptoms, evaluation, management, and outcomes. Most of TikTok’s testicular cancer information lacks quality and completeness, whilst higher-quality videos have limited reach.
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spelling doaj-art-e46aa2b7c9cc40e8a20913d55b7654032025-08-20T03:25:11ZengMDPI AGSociété Internationale d’Urologie Journal2563-64992024-06-015318219110.3390/siuj5030028A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTokHoi Pong Nicholas Wong0Lee Jing Yang1Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan2Jamie Yong Qi Lim3Wei Zheng So4Vineet Gauhar5Ho Yee Tiong6Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, SingaporeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, SingaporeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, SingaporeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, SingaporeDepartment of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Urology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore 609606, SingaporeDepartment of Urology, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeTikTok has become a hub for easily accessible medical information. However, the quality and completeness of this information for testicular cancer has not been examined. Our study aims to assess the quality and completeness of testicular cancer information on TikTok. A search was performed on TikTok using the search terms “Testicular Cancer” and “Testicle Cancer”. Inclusion criteria encompassed videos about testicular cancer in English. We excluded non-English videos, irrelevant videos, and videos without audio. We evaluated these videos using the DISCERN instrument and a completeness assessment. A total of 361 videos were considered for screening and 116 videos were included. Of these, 57 were created by healthcare professionals (HCPs). The median video length was 40 s (5–277 s), with >25 million cumulative views and a median of 446,400 views per video. The average DISCERN score was 29.0 ± 5.7, with HCPs providing higher-quality videos than non-HCPs (30.8 vs. 5.5, <i>p</i> < 0.05). HCPs also had more reliable videos (21.2 vs. 18.1, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall quality levels were mostly poor or very poor (97.4%), with none being good or excellent. Most HCP videos were poor (63.2%), whilst many non-HCP videos were very poor (61.0%). The most viewed video had 2,800,000 views but scored a 31 on the DISCERN tool and one on the completeness assessment. The highest DISCERN score had 11,700 views. HCP videos better defined the disease and were more complete (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Most videos discussed self-assessment but were lacking in definitions, risk factors, symptoms, evaluation, management, and outcomes. Most of TikTok’s testicular cancer information lacks quality and completeness, whilst higher-quality videos have limited reach.https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/3/28TikToktesticular cancersocial media#SoMe
spellingShingle Hoi Pong Nicholas Wong
Lee Jing Yang
Vikneshwaren S/O Senthamil Selvan
Jamie Yong Qi Lim
Wei Zheng So
Vineet Gauhar
Ho Yee Tiong
A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
Société Internationale d’Urologie Journal
TikTok
testicular cancer
social media
#SoMe
title A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
title_full A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
title_fullStr A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
title_full_unstemmed A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
title_short A Quality and Completeness Assessment of Testicular Cancer Health Information on TikTok
title_sort quality and completeness assessment of testicular cancer health information on tiktok
topic TikTok
testicular cancer
social media
#SoMe
url https://www.mdpi.com/2563-6499/5/3/28
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