Quality of information about potentially malignant oral disorders on TikTok: a cross-sectional analysis in the context of social media

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Potentially malignant oral disorders (PMODs) can progress to oral cancer, making the quality of available health information especially relevant. This research aimed to analyze TikTok content related to potentially malignant oral disorders (PMOD), considering aspects such as source, duration, and content quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to analyze TikTok videos related to potentially malignant oral disorders (PMODs), using the hashtags #leukoplakia, #lichen planus, #actinic cheilitis, #oral lichenoid lesions, and #erythroplasia. English- and Spanish-language videos were included; duplicates, unrelated, advertising, or silent videos were excluded. Video characteristics, engagement (views, likes, comments, saves, shares), viewing and interaction indices, and type of uploader were recorded. Two evaluators scored the content with DISCERN and the Global Quality Scale (GQS). RESULTS: A total of 96 videos were analyzed. The largest group of creators were nano-influencers (1-10,000 followers; 58.3%). The DISCERN score had a median of 25 (IQR: 22-29), and most of the videos obtained very low Global Quality Scale (GQS) scores (median 2; IQR: 1-2). A very strong correlation was observed between DISCERN and GQS (r = 0.890, p < 0.001). Videos addressing actinic cheilitis obtained slightly higher scores, although the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The overall quality of TikTok videos on potentially malignant oral disorders was low. DISCERN and GQS scores showed a strong correlation, and quality was not related to popularity or engagement metrics. These findings highlight the importance of healthcare professionals contributing accurate information to social media, and the need to adapt or develop evaluation tools for video-based content.