How TikTok Is Being Used to Help Individuals Cope With Breast Cancer: Cross-sectional Content Analysis

Abstract

Background Acknowledging the popularity of TikTok, how quickly medical information can spread, and how users seek support on social media, there is a clear lack of research on breast cancer conversations on TikTok. There is a paucity of information on how these videos can advocate for those impacted by breast cancer as a means to provide support and information as well as raise awareness. Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional content analysis was to describe the content of videos from the hashtag #breastcancer on TikTok. Content related to breast cancer support and coping, cancer education, and heightening the awareness of breast cancer early detection, prevention, and treatment was evaluated. Methods This study included 100 of the most viewed TikTok videos related to breast cancer through June 30, 2022. Videos were excluded if they were not in the English language or relevant to the topic being studied. Content was deductively coded into categories related to video characteristics and content topics using a screener based on expert breast cancer information sheets. Univariable analyses were conducted to evaluate differences in video characteristics and content when stratified as advocating or not advocating for breast cancer (yes or no) support, education, and awareness. Results The cumulative number of views of the videos included in this study was 369,504,590. The majority (n=81, 81%) of videos were created by patients and loved ones of individuals with breast cancer, and the most commonly discussed topic was breast cancer support (n=88, 88%), followed by coping with the myriad issues surrounding breast cancer (n=79, 79%). Overall, <50% of the videos addressed important issues such as body image (n=48, 48%), surgery (n=46, 46%), medication and therapy (n=41, 41%), or the stigma associated with a breast cancer diagnosis (n=44, 44%); however, in videos that were advocacy oriented, body image (40/62, 64% vs 8/38, 21%; P<.001), stigma associated with breast cancer (33/62, 53% vs 11/38, 29%; P=.02), and breast cancer surgery (36/62, 58% vs 10/38, 26%; P=.002) were discussed significantly more often than in videos that did not specifically advocate for breast cancer. Conclusions The use of videos to display health journeys can facilitate engagement by patients, family members, and loved ones interested in information about challenging conditions. Collectively, these findings highlight the level of peer-to-peer involvement on TikTok and may provide insights for designing breast cancer educational campaigns.

Mapping Digital Wellness Content

“…Third, wellness content tends to focus on positivity and empowerment. This type of messaging can have substantive benefits to individuals, from increased confidence and self-advocacy in medical situations (Attai et al, 2015;Basch et al, 2022;Treder et al, 2022) to social support and connectedness (Myrick et al, 2016;Pavelko & Myrick, 2020). It also presents an opportunity to examine how positive affect and messaging may be related to misperceptions and misinformation.…”

Rol de autoridad y análisis del discurso en torno al cáncer de mama en las comunidades de YouTube

“…Otro asunto predominante tiene que ver con el tratamiento, con observaciones sobre las diferentes terapias, como la radiación o la mastectomía, pasando por los efectos secundarios de los mismos. En conjunto, estos hallazgos ponen de relieve el nivel de participación entre iguales y pueden aportar ideas para el diseño de campañas educativas sobre el cáncer de mama, algo parecido a lo que ocurre en otras redes sociales como TikTok (Basch et al, 2022).…”