Evaluation of the quality of information on gouty arthritis on Chinese internet platforms: A cross-sectional comparative analysis

Acute gout attacks cause severe pain, and short-video platforms have become patients' primary source of information. However, the quality and reliability of this information are increasingly concerning. This study will systematically evaluate the information quality of gouty arthritis-related content on Bilibili and TikTok video-sharing platforms, along with factors influencing video quality. This study systematically evaluated the quality and reliability of 100 popular gout-related videos each from Bilibili and TikTok. Video quality and reliability were assessed using the global quality score, Modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), JAMA Benchmark Standard, and Hexagonal Radar Schema (HRS) tools. Correlations between video quality and metrics such as likes, comments, saves, and shares were also analyzed. Results showed median scores across 4 metrics on Bilibili: global quality score 3.0 (2.00, 4.00), mDISCERN3..0 (3.00, 4.00), JAMA 3.0 (2.00, 3.00), HRS 5.0 (4.00, 6.00); TikTok's corresponding scores were 3.0 (IQR 3.00-4.00), 3.0 (IQR 3.00-4.00), 3.0 (IQR 3.00-3.75), and 3.0 (IQR 2.00-4.50). Although Bilibili's HRS scores were higher than TikTok's, video quality was generally poor across both platforms. Furthermore, the study found a positive correlation between video length and quality. Increased likes and shares may not always reflect improved video quality, as these metrics can be influenced by the entertainment nature of online videos and may not fully indicate quality. Our research indicates that the health information short videos related to gouty arthritis on Bilibili and TikTok have poor quality, but the videos uploaded by medical professionals are considered reliable in terms of comprehensiveness and content quality. Health information seekers must carefully evaluate the scientific accuracy and reliability of short videos providing medical information on Bilibili and TikTok before making healthcare decisions.