Navigating Digital Dermatology: An Analysis of Acne-Related Content on TikTok

Introduction Influenza is a major global health concern, with its rapid spread and mutation rate posing significant challenges in public health education and communication. Effective patient education materials (PEMs) are crucial for informed decision-making and improved health outcomes. This study evaluates the efficacy of online influenza PEMs using traditional readability tools and introduces the Contextual Health Education Readability Score (CHERS) to address the limitations of existing methods that do not capture the diverse array of visual and thematic means displayed. Materials and methods A comprehensive search was conducted to select relevant online influenza PEMs. This involved looking through Google's first two pages of results sorted by relevance, for a total of 20 results. These materials were evaluated using established readability tools (e.g., Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level) and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) for understandability and actionability. The study also involved the creation of CHERS, integrating factors such as semantic complexity, cultural relevance, and visual aid effectiveness. The development of CHERS included weighting each component based on its impact on readability and comprehension. Results The traditional readability tools demonstrated significant variability in the readability of the selected materials. The PEMAT analysis revealed general trends toward clarity in purpose and use of everyday language but indicated a need for improvement in summaries and visual aids. The CHERS formula was calculated as follows: CHERS = (0.4 × Average Sentence Length) + (0.3 × Average Syllables per Word) + (0.15 × Semantic Complexity Score) + (0.1 × Cultural Relevance Score) + (0.05 × Visual Aid Effectiveness Score), integrating multiple dimensions beyond traditional readability metrics. Discussion The study highlighted the limitations of traditional readability tools in assessing the complexity and cultural relevance of health information. The introduction of CHERS addressed these gaps by incorporating additional dimensions crucial for understanding in a healthcare context. The recommendations provided for creating effective influenza PEMs focused on language simplicity, cultural sensitivity, and actionability. This may enable further research into evaluating current PEMs and clarifying means of creating more effective content in the future. Conclusions The study underscores the need for comprehensive readability assessments in PEMs. The creation of CHERS marks a significant advancement in this field, providing a more holistic approach to evaluating health literacy materials. Its application could lead to the development of more inclusive and effective educational content, thereby improving public health outcomes and reducing the global burden of influenza. Future research should focus on further validating CHERS and exploring its applicability to ot...

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Birth of the Contextual Health Education Readability Score in an Examination of Online Influenza Patient Educational Materials

Irfan,

Yasin,

Yaqoob

2024

“…TikTok is one such platform characterized by the spread of short videos by content creators from across different backgrounds, and it has witnessed exponential growth since its inception [11]. Its algorithmically driven content presentation, coupled with the platform's global reach, positions it uniquely in the realm of health information dissemination [12]. Given this backdrop, it is imperative to characterize the quality and reach of asthma-related content on this platform.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breath of Change: Evaluating Asthma Information on TikTok and Introducing the Video Health Information Credibility Score

Irfan,

Yasin,

Yaqoob

2024

Self Cite

IntroductionAsthma's global prevalence underscores the need for accessible health information dissemination, especially in the digital age. TikTok, known for its wide reach and diverse content, presents both opportunities and challenges in health information dissemination. This study aims to characterize the quality and reach of asthma-related content on TikTok and introduces the Video Health Information Credibility Score (VHICS) as a novel tool for quality assessment. Materials and methodsWe used a systematic methodology to analyze the top 100 TikTok videos by the number of likes tagged with #asthma. Data were collected in June 2023 and January 2024 to allow for temporal trend analysis. Videos were evaluated based on engagement metrics (views, likes, comments, shares, and favorites) and quality using the DISCERN instrument. ResultsOur analysis showed that physician-generated content accounted for a significant proportion of asthmarelated videos, with varying levels of engagement. The DISCERN scores, with a range of 1 (lowest) to 5 highest), provided insights into content quality, revealing trends in user engagement and information reliability over time. Temporal analysis indicated changes in content creation and audience interaction. DiscussionThe study highlights the evolving landscape of digital health communication on TikTok. The introduction of VHICS added depth to the quality assessment of future directions, indicating the necessity for accurate and reliable health information on social media. The findings suggest an imperative for healthcare professionals to address misinformation and leverage digital platforms for patient education effectively. ConclusionsTikTok is a significant medium for health information dissemination, with substantial potential for impact in patient education. The introduction of VHICS can enrich the analysis of video content, offering a robust tool for assessing the quality of health information on social media. This study underscores the importance of credible, clear, and audience-relevant health communication in the digital era.

“…Additionally, the study's reliance on publicly available content on TikTok limits our ability to comprehensively understand the impact of the platform on individual health behaviors and decisions [22]. Future research should aim to directly assess the influence of TikTok health information on user knowledge, attitudes, and actions regarding sinus health, potentially through surveys or interviews [23].…”

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confidence: 99%

Innovating Online Otolaryngology: The Development of the ENT Content Engagement and Quality Index for Audiovisual Material

Irfan,

Yaqoob

2024

Self Cite

The advent of social media platforms, notably TikTok, has significantly transformed the landscape of health information dissemination, offering both opportunities and challenges for public health communication. This study focuses on TikTok's influence on sinus health information, addressing the dual challenge of widespread engagement and the risk of misinformation in otolaryngology, or ENT (ear-nose-throat), information online. We introduce the ENT Content Engagement and Quality Index (ENT-CEQI), a pioneering tool designed to assess the quality and engagement of ENT-related content on TikTok, aiming to improve public understanding of sinus health. Materials and methodsOur methodology involved a systematic analysis of sinus health-related content on TikTok. We collected data on the top 100 most popular videos using the hashtag #sinus at two different points in time, analyzing engagement metrics and content quality. The ENT-CEQI was developed to evaluate content, incorporating both quantitative engagement metrics (views, likes, comments, shares, favorites) and qualitative assessments (accuracy, clarity, relevance, practicality, engagement). The study employed statistical analyses, including trend analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), KMeans clustering, regression analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test, to understand the dynamics of content engagement and quality. ResultsInitial findings revealed significant disparities in engagement metrics and quality scores among different content creator categories, with physician-generated content showing the highest engagement and quality. The trend analysis indicated shifts in content popularity and quality over time, with a notable increase in views and likes for private company content. The PCA and clustering analyses identified distinct content clusters, offering insights into viewer engagement patterns. Regression analysis and the Kruskal-Wallis test, however, did not find significant predictors (p-value: 0.3916) of content quality or differences in likes across content types, suggesting complex factors influencing content engagement and quality perception. DiscussionThe study highlights TikTok's potential and pitfalls in disseminating sinus health information. The introduction of the ENT-CEQI represents a major step toward enhancing the evaluation of health content on social media, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, clarity, and relevance in public health communication. The analysis underscores the complexity of social media engagement and the need for robust tools to assess content quality. It also points to the critical role of healthcare professionals in engaging with the public through social media to combat misinformation. ConclusionsTikTok serves as a potent platform for sinus health education, capable of reaching wide and diverse audiences. The ENT-CEQI emerges as a vital tool for assessing the quality and engagement of ENT-related content, guiding content creators toward producing more reliable and informative content. This study...