Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok

Abstract Objective Assessing the quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination‐related content on TikTok is crucial due to its popularity among adolescents. We assessed these videos while comparing the content and quality of videos with and without physician involvement. Study Design Cross‐secti...

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Main Authors: Matthew E. Lin, Oluwatobiloba Ayo‐Ajibola, Carlos X. Castellanos, Jonathan D. West, Neil Luu, Niels C. Kokot
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:OTO Open
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/oto2.70052
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author Matthew E. Lin
Oluwatobiloba Ayo‐Ajibola
Carlos X. Castellanos
Jonathan D. West
Neil Luu
Niels C. Kokot
author_facet Matthew E. Lin
Oluwatobiloba Ayo‐Ajibola
Carlos X. Castellanos
Jonathan D. West
Neil Luu
Niels C. Kokot
author_sort Matthew E. Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Assessing the quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination‐related content on TikTok is crucial due to its popularity among adolescents. We assessed these videos while comparing the content and quality of videos with and without physician involvement. Study Design Cross‐sectional cohort analysis. Setting HPV vaccination‐related TikTok videos. Methods The TikTok library was queried using the search terms #HPVvaccine, #HPVvaccination, #Gardasil, #Gardasilvaccine, and #Gardasilvaccination. Video quality was evaluated using the DISCERN scale, assessing treatment‐related information quality. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our cohort. t Test and Fischer's exact test were used to assess for differences in video content and quality based on physician involvement. Significance was set at P < .05. Results Our search yielded 131 videos, averaging 68,503.12 views, 2314.27 likes, and 89.28 comments per video. Videos frequently involved physicians (48.09%), focused on education (54.96%) or advocacy (22.90%), and were US‐made (68.90%). Otolaryngologists were rarely featured (3.17%). While most videos mentioned the HPV vaccine protected against cancer generally (86.26%), and cervical cancer specifically (67.94%), few discussed its protective effect against head and neck cancer (26.72%). Videos infrequently discussed updated eligibility among all adults ≤45 years of age (26.72%) or that men can also receive the vaccine (28.24%). Physician‐involved videos were more focused on education (P < .001) and focused less on patient experiences (P < .001) and advocacy (P = .036). Overall DISCERN scores were low among physician (mean = 2.46, SD = 1.13) and nonphysician (mean = 2.09, SD = 1.02) content. Conclusion TikTok HPV vaccination content is poor in quality, even with physician involvement. Enhancing content quality and increasing otolaryngologist participation can boost HPV awareness and vaccination rates.
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spelling doaj-art-163a788b80c342028e451524a8be640a2024-12-27T10:00:50ZengWileyOTO Open2473-974X2024-10-0184n/an/a10.1002/oto2.70052Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTokMatthew E. Lin0Oluwatobiloba Ayo‐Ajibola1Carlos X. Castellanos2Jonathan D. West3Neil Luu4Niels C. Kokot5Department of Head and Neck Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USAKeck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USADepartment of Head and Neck Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USACaruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USACaruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USACaruso Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California Los Angeles California USAAbstract Objective Assessing the quality of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination‐related content on TikTok is crucial due to its popularity among adolescents. We assessed these videos while comparing the content and quality of videos with and without physician involvement. Study Design Cross‐sectional cohort analysis. Setting HPV vaccination‐related TikTok videos. Methods The TikTok library was queried using the search terms #HPVvaccine, #HPVvaccination, #Gardasil, #Gardasilvaccine, and #Gardasilvaccination. Video quality was evaluated using the DISCERN scale, assessing treatment‐related information quality. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize our cohort. t Test and Fischer's exact test were used to assess for differences in video content and quality based on physician involvement. Significance was set at P < .05. Results Our search yielded 131 videos, averaging 68,503.12 views, 2314.27 likes, and 89.28 comments per video. Videos frequently involved physicians (48.09%), focused on education (54.96%) or advocacy (22.90%), and were US‐made (68.90%). Otolaryngologists were rarely featured (3.17%). While most videos mentioned the HPV vaccine protected against cancer generally (86.26%), and cervical cancer specifically (67.94%), few discussed its protective effect against head and neck cancer (26.72%). Videos infrequently discussed updated eligibility among all adults ≤45 years of age (26.72%) or that men can also receive the vaccine (28.24%). Physician‐involved videos were more focused on education (P < .001) and focused less on patient experiences (P < .001) and advocacy (P = .036). Overall DISCERN scores were low among physician (mean = 2.46, SD = 1.13) and nonphysician (mean = 2.09, SD = 1.02) content. Conclusion TikTok HPV vaccination content is poor in quality, even with physician involvement. Enhancing content quality and increasing otolaryngologist participation can boost HPV awareness and vaccination rates.https://doi.org/10.1002/oto2.70052head and neck cancerHPVqualityreliabilitysocial mediaTikTok
spellingShingle Matthew E. Lin
Oluwatobiloba Ayo‐Ajibola
Carlos X. Castellanos
Jonathan D. West
Neil Luu
Niels C. Kokot
Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
OTO Open
head and neck cancer
HPV
quality
reliability
social media
TikTok
title Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
title_full Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
title_fullStr Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
title_short Evaluating HPV Vaccination‐Related Content on a Burgeoning Social Media Platform: Insufficient Quality of TikTok
title_sort evaluating hpv vaccination related content on a burgeoning social media platform insufficient quality of tiktok
topic head and neck cancer
HPV
quality
reliability
social media
TikTok
url https://doi.org/10.1002/oto2.70052
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