Abstract
Purpose :
TikTok, known for short-form videos, has emerged as a key platform for public health and medical information, especially in oculoplastic surgeries like Blepharoplasty. This study assesses the accuracy and quality of the top 100 TikTok videos tagged with #Blepharoplasty and #Eyelidsurgery. It aims to understand how oculoplastic surgery information is presented on digital platforms and guide surgeons in effectively using social media for health information dissemination.
Methods :
We conducted a systematic search on TikTok using the hashtags "#Blepharoplasty" and "#Eyelidsurgery," selecting the top 100 most-liked videos. Each video was evaluated, collecting data on the creator's background, video purpose, and like counts. Two independent reviewers rated each video following the DISCERN guidelines. Correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between DISCERN scores, like counts, video purposes, and creator backgrounds.
Results :
Out of 100 videos analyzed, 83 met our inclusion criteria. DISCERN scores for these videos ranged from 16 to 49, with categorizations as very poor (16-26) for 30%, poor (27-38) for 65%, and fair (39-50) for 5%. No videos fell into the good or excellent categories. Content sources were diverse: 29% from patients, 29% from plastic surgeons, 13% from influencers, 10% from ENT-trained plastic surgeons, 2% from oculoplastic surgeons, and 17% from other cosmetic providers. In terms of content, 44% of the videos showcased before-and-after surgery results, 23% provided educational information, 13% depicted actual surgical procedures, and 8% were entertainment-focused. Additionally, 4% featured patient experiences, another 4% discussed alternative treatments, and the remaining 4% focused on the pre-op and post-op process.
Conclusions :
Our study shows that TikTok users are highly engaged with blepharoplasty content, especially transformation videos. Despite plastic surgeons (including ENT-trained and oculoplastic surgeons) receiving higher DISCERN scores, there's no direct link between video quality and popularity, suggesting TikTok is not entirely reliable for accurate blepharoplasty information. Patients should differentiate between online content and real-life expectations. Nonetheless, by understanding patient engagement with different content types, surgeons can refine their social media strategies to enhance patient engagement and education on oculoplastic surgeries like blepharoplasty.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.