TikTok, RedNote, and Bilibili as sources of medical information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-platform content analysis.

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) poses a significant public health burden, particularly in China. This study mainly assessed the quality of clinical information and prevalent misinformation related to COPD-related short videos on TikTok, RedNote, and Bilibili.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using videos collected on November 15, 2025. "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" was used as the search keyword on TikTok, RedNote, and Bilibili. After removing duplicate and irrelevant videos, 510 videos (167 from TikTok, 167 from RedNote, and 176 from Bilibili) were included in the analysis. Video characteristics, uploader types, and content categories were documented. The quality of information was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified Decision-Making Information Support Criteria for Evaluating the Reliability of Non-randomized Studies (mDISCERN) instrument.

RESULTS

TikTok videos exhibited significantly higher user engagement (likes, comments, shares, and saves) than RedNote and Bilibili videos (P<0.001). However, regarding information quality, Bilibili videos achieved significantly higher GQS and mDISCERN scores than TikTok and RedNote videos (P<0.001). Content produced by professional institutions and individuals received significantly higher scores than that produced by nonprofessional institutions. A strong positive correlation was found among the popularity metrics, but no significant correlation was found between popularity indicators and quality scores.

CONCLUSIONS

COPD-related short videos displayed uneven clinical information quality despite broad public exposure. Viral popular content cannot guarantee medical authenticity, and widespread misinformation may interfere with regular patient care. Sufficient professional participation and strict platform content supervision are therefore required to standardize online COPD health education and reduce clinical risks.