Abstract

TikTok specializes in short videos and has become a common source of information for many of its users. To date, only three other studies have characterized the quality and value of popular TikTok content related to orthopedics. This study evaluated the quality and value of the top 100 most liked TikTok videos categorized with #aclrehab. A comprehensive search was conducted in TikTok using the search parameter #aclrehab. The top 100 most-liked videos were analyzed by four independent reviewers. Video characteristics and viewer interaction parameters were analyzed as well. Videos were categorized first by source and then further classified as useful, misleading/irrelevant, or personal experience. Useful videos were assessed for reliability and comprehensiveness using a modified 5-point DISCERN scale. Personal experience videos were further categorized into positive, negative, or neutral valence. The overall quality of all videos were assessed, regardless of classification, according to the 5-point Global Quality Scale (GQS). Of the 100 videos retrieved, 21 videos were classified as useful, 68 as personal experience, and 11 as misleading/irrelevant. The GQS average for useful videos was 3.36 while the GQS averages for personal experience and irrelevant/misleading videos were 1.43 and 1.18 respectively. While significant differences in GQS scores were observed, the overall reliability and comprehensiveness of useful videos scored poorly. For videos categorized as useful, the DISCERN score average was 2.54. For the videos classified as personal experiences, the number of positive, negative, and neutral valenced videos were 14, 20, and 34 respectively. This study found that the most popular TikTok videos categorized with #aclrehab are mostly personal experiences with little informational value or quality. The study also concluded that of the 21 videos classified as useful, the information regarding ACL rehabilitation is of slightly below moderate quality and reliability.