JAMA

Patients are turning to TikTok for medical advice: Here's what you need to know

March 27, 2024

Here's what clinicians need to know about health information on TikTok, according to a "Medical News & Perspectives" article recently published in JAMA.

1. TikTok stands out due to its large following and advanced algorithm.

It's distinctive from other platforms because it has a large following, 150 million people are on TikTok in just the U.S., according to data reported from TikTok last year.

Additionally, Laura Schwab-Reese, MA, PhD, an associate professor at Purdue University’s Department of Public Health, said the platform deserves consideration because of its specific algorithm, namely its “For You” page, which customizes content to users based on factors such as user interactions and device or account settings.

2. There's a combination of patient experience and expert advice.

Because TikTok feeds are specific to individual users, it can be difficult to gauge what they might be seeing. A variety of studies, however, have scraped popular videos under certain hashtags to try to get an idea. In doing so, researchers have analyzed TikTok videos on autism, diabetes, mpox, thyroid cancer, and other medical topics.

There's also a mix of health advice that's either credible or misleading, and one expert noted that the most popular producers may not be creating the most accurate content.

3. It's not all accurate.

The accuracy of health information on TikTok varies by topic, research suggests. In a recent study, researchers analyzed 49 videos with medical claims about the labor-inducing drug Pitocin. They categorized 84% of this content as inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, or only partially accurate. But in a different study, they found that the most-viewed TikToks about medication abortion were much more reliable: 86% of the videos that presented scientific claims were mostly accurate.

4. It can influence patients' decisions.

No published research currently links health care decision-making to TikTok content—and it's unlikely to do so soon. Experts note that with any communication study, it’s difficult to measure a specific factor’s impact on behavior. Still, persuasive misinformation is a valid concern.

5. Clinicians can be creators.

Jennifer Lincoln, MD, medical director of the Providence Portland Medical Center Mother and Baby Postpartum Clinic, has 2.8 million followers on TikTok. “The reason I finally gave in and posted on TikTok was because that’s where my audience was,” Lincoln said. “The content that I was posting there was getting amplified so quickly that I realized that this is where the message needs to be. And that’s what public health is: going to where people are and learning how they consume content.”

6. Acknowledging TikTok can help facilitate conversations.

TikTok has captured the public’s attention, for better or worse. Lincoln feels that knowing what patients are seeing can help facilitate conversations surrounding treatment. “To physicians, I want to say the vast majority of you will never create content on TikTok,” she said. “That’s completely fine, but I do want you to know it’s out there, and you can use it as an opening conversation with your patients. It’s a great way to meet people where they’re at and figure out what they’re worried about.”

Source:

Anderer, S. (2024, March 22). JAMA. Patients Are Turning to TikTok for Health Information—Here’s What Clinicians Need to Know. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2816695