Assessing the content and quality of deep vein thrombosis on Bilibili, TikTok, and YouTube: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a form of venous thromboembolism, occurring in approximately 1.6 out of every 1000 people annually. Social media platforms have become influential tools for disseminating health information.This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the content, quality, and reliability of DVT-related videos on TikTok, Bilibili, and YouTube. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted on Bilibili, TikTok (Douyin), and YouTube using three keywords - "", "Deep vein thrombosis", and "DVT" - across all platforms.Two reviewers independently assessed video characteristics, categorized content (definition, etiologies and causations, symptoms, treatment, prevention, and complications), and evaluated quality using validated tools [Global Quality Scale(GQS), The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) scores]. RESULTS: Analyzing 300 DVT-related videos revealed distinct content distribution patterns across platforms. On TikTok, prevention (24%), etiologies and causations (23%), and symptoms (21%) predominated; on Bilibili, treatment (30%), prevention (29%), and complications (16%) were most common; while on YouTube, treatment (25%), symptoms (24%), and etiologies and causations (18%) were prioritized. Quality assessment showed moderate overall scores: median GQS of 4 (Q1-Q3: 3-4) for TikTok and YouTube, compared to 3 (Q1-Q3: 3-4) for Bilibili (p = 0.02).TikTok videos had significantly higher modified DISCERN scores (4, Q1-Q3: 3-4) compared to Bilibili (3, Q1-Q3: 3-4) and YouTube (3, Q1-Q3: 2-3) (p < 0.0001). TikTok and Bilibili videos had higher JAMA scores (2, Q1-Q3: 2-2) than YouTube (2, Q1-Q3: 1-2) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although DVT-related videos on social media offer valuable information on prevention and treatment, content on diagnosis and epidemiology is lacking.Videos created by medical professionals showed higher quality across all assessment metrics.Efforts should focus on improving the comprehensiveness and reliability of health information on social media platforms to enhance public awareness of DVT.