The quality and reliability of short videos about pulmonary hypertension on Bilibili and TikTok: a cross-sectional study

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased vascular resistance, which is associated with a high mortality rate. Short-video platforms, such as Douyin and Bilibili, have increasingly become popular channels for disseminating health-related information. However, the quality and reliability of PH-related content on these platforms remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the quality of videos related to PH on these platforms. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 10–16, 2025, analyzing 253 PH-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili. Videos were assessed for content, source, duration, and engagement metrics. Video quality and reliability were evaluated using validated tools: Global Quality Score (GQS) was used to assess the overall quality and educational value of the videos, whereas the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) instrument and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria were applied to evaluate the reliability and credibility of the health information. Content completeness was scored across six domains: epidemiology, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. A total of 253 videos were included in this study, most of which were uploaded by dedicated health professionals (DHPs), defined as specialists directly involved in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension. TikTok videos showed higher levels of user engagement and greater popularity than those on Bilibili, whereas Bilibili videos were generally longer in duration and achieved higher JAMA benchmark scores. In terms of video quality, no significant differences were observed between the two platforms, with median GQS and mDISCERN scores of 4.00 and 3.00, respectively. Content analysis indicated that most videos focused on etiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis, while epidemiology and prognosis were less frequently addressed. Videos produced by DHPs demonstrated significantly higher overall quality and reliability (median GQS: 4.00; median mDISCERN: 3.00; both P < 0.001), and videos uploaded by institutional users achieved the highest JAMA scores (median: 3.00; P < 0.001). No significant associations were found between user engagement metrics and video quality scores on either platform. The results of this cross-sectional study indicate that the quality of pulmonary hypertension-related content varies across Chinese short-video platforms. Videos produced by healthcare professionals are more reliable but predominantly focus on etiology, symptoms, and diagnosis, with limited coverage of epidemiology and prognosis. Bilibili videos demonstrate higher authority, while TikTok exhibits stronger user engagement. Notably, user interaction metrics do not reflect content quality, highlighting the need for careful evaluation of online health information and providing a basis for developing targeted digital health communication strategies.