Isotretinoin on TikTok: A Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes, Perspectives, and Knowledge Dissemination of User-Generated Content.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory skin condition that commonly affects adolescents and adults, which correlates well with the main demographic of TikTok (ByteDance Ltd., Beijing, China) users. This study investigates TikTok's role in disseminating knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives regarding isotretinoin among its users.

METHODS

This study examined 50 TikTok videos related to isotretinoin. Independent reviewers performed thematic analysis, identifying key themes. Data on views, likes, comments, shares, hashtags, captions, and creator demographics were collected.

RESULTS

Out of 50 videos, 14 had view count data (totaling 607,700 views). All videos had likes, comments, and shares (totaling 950,805 likes, 12,172 comments, and 13,195 shares). Video demographics included 42% of healthcare professionals (18 doctors/dermatologists, two pharmacists, and one dermatology nurse) and 58% of non-professionals (28 patients and one aesthetician), a significant percentage. The most frequently occurring hashtags were #accutane, #isotretinoin, #acne, #roaccutane, and #acnetreatment. The thematic analysis revealed eight themes related to the role of social media in shaping perceptions of the drug. These themes include psychological side effects and impact, personal experiences, treatment process and decision-making, awareness, misconceptions and communication, post-treatment considerations, and outlook. Notably, the discourse is dominated by non-medical content creators who often spread misinformation, particularly regarding mental health risks.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights TikTok's role in shaping perceptions of isotretinoin, revealing diverse user experiences and the impact of social media on health information. Healthcare professionals must engage with platforms to counteract misinformation and support informed decision-making. Future research should explore ways to improve the quality of health information on TikTok and evaluate its long-term effects on isotretinoin prescription uptake and treatment adherence.