Tips, Trends, and Truths: A Study of Psoriasis Treatment Content on TikTok.

Abstract

With more than two billion downloads since its launch, TikTok is the fastest-growing video-sharing platform in the world. Many people turn to TikTok for dermatologic medical information. However, there is limited data about psoriasis and psoriasis treatment content on this social media platform. To compare the viewer engagement, content quality, and viewer experience of psoriasis treatment TikTok videos between physicians and non-physicians. We searched the terms "psoriasis" and "psoriasis treatment" on TikTok. Video characteristics were collected. Content quality was evaluated using DISCERN. Viewer experience was assessed using the AVA. Viewer engagement did not significantly differ between physicians and non-physician content creators (0.033 plus/minus 0.005 vs 0.047 plus/minus 0.001, P=0.066). Compared to non-physicians, physicians created videos of higher quality (DISCERN: 1.76 plus/minus 0.058 vs 1.44 plus/minus 0.032, P<0.001) and of greater viewer experience (AVA: 2.55 plus/minus 0.183 vs 1.96 plus/minus 0.081, P=0.001). However, there is room for improvement in terms of creating videos of higher quality by both physicians and non-physicians. TikTok can be a powerful tool to promote health literacy and dispel misinformation. Dermatologists may consider focusing their efforts on creating comprehensive educational content and incorporating trending features to reach a wider audience. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(2): doi:10.36849/JDD.7050e.