(238) TikTok as a Source of Information Regarding Premature Ejaculation: a Qualitative Assessment

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Patients are increasingly looking to social media platforms for sources of medical information. TikTok is one of the newest social media platforms primarily geared towards younger audiences. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the quality of information regarding premature ejaculation (PE) on TikTok. Methods The term “premature ejaculation” was searched on TikTok in May 2022. The first 40 top videos that met inclusion criteria were included. Videos were sorted as reliable or unreliable based on accuracy of video content by three reviewers. Relevant user metrics were collected for each video, including: number of likes, shares, followers of user, video length, source of upload and speaker type. Quality of information was numerically evaluated using Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and 5-point modified DISCERN validated tools with mean scores obtained from the three reviewers. Results Eight videos were categorized as reliable and 32 videos were categorized as unreliable. Mean number of “likes” per video was higher in the reliable versus unreliable group (1,238 vs. 126, p < 0.018). Accounts posting reliable videos had higher mean number of followers versus unreliable (55,050 vs. 12,042, p = 0.025). The majority of unreliable videos (75%) were posted by self-identified patients or individual users versus 12.5% of reliable videos. 62.5% of reliable videos were posted by individual physicians or physician groups, versus 6.3% of unreliable videos. Few overall videos mentioned indications for PE treatment, types of treatment, or value of psychological intervention (12.5%, 15%, 22.5% and 5.0% respectively.) Video length and number of shares did not differ between groups. Reliable videos had a higher DISCERN (2.7 vs. 0, p < 0.001) and PEMAT (73.0 v. 45.1, p < 0.001). Conclusions Quality of information regarding premature ejaculation on TikTok is low with a significant percentage of videos on this topic fraught with inaccurate information. Given TikTok’s prominence as a social media platform primarily geared towards younger audiences, we emphasize a need for improvement in the quality of information available regarding premature ejaculation and its management. Disclosure No