Tetanus Health Information on YouTube and TikTok: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Quality, Reliability, and Public Health Implications

Background: Tetanus is a severe but vaccine-preventable neurological disease that remains a public health concern, especially in resource-limited settings. As social media becomes an important source of health information, concerns persist regarding the quality and reliability of tetanus-related content online. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality, reliability, and thematic characteristics of tetanus-related videos on YouTube and TikTok and to examine the relationship between engagement metrics and information quality. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using tetanus-related videos retrieved from YouTube and TikTok on August 1, 2025. The top 100 eligible videos from each platform were included (n=200). Video quality was assessed using the Global Quality Scale, whereas reliability and transparency were evaluated using the modified DISCERN tool and the Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria. A thematic content analysis based on predefined coding categories was also performed. Video characteristics, source types, and engagement metrics were also collected. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine associations between engagement indicators and quality scores. Results: YouTube videos showed significantly higher quality and reliability than TikTok videos, with higher median Global Quality Scale, modified DISCERN, and Journal of the American Medical Association scores (all P<.001). Compared with TikTok, YouTube videos more frequently discussed symptoms (92% vs 81%, P=.02), prevention (95% vs 78%, P<.001), treatment (88% vs 70%, P=.002), and wound management (77% vs 38%, P<.001). Lower-quality videos commonly contained incomplete prevention information, vague symptom descriptions, and limited source attribution. Videos produced by official medical organizations and professional health care creators generally achieved higher quality scores. Although engagement indicators were strongly correlated with each other, their associations with informational quality were relatively limited. Conclusions: YouTube provided more comprehensive and reliable tetanus-related information than TikTok, although content quality on both platforms remained inconsistent. Greater involvement from health care professionals and clearer evidence-based communication may help improve the quality of health information shared on social media platforms.