JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Tetanus is a life-threatening central nervous system infection caused by Clostridium tetani neurotoxin, with high mortality and disability rates, especially in regions with limited healthcare access. Although vaccination is highly effective, public awareness remains insufficient, highlighting the need for accurate and accessible health communication. With the rapid growth of digital platforms, social media has become a major source of health information. However, the quality and reliability of user-generated content vary widely, and systematic infodemiology assessments are still lacking.

Objective:

Objective:

This study aimed to conduct an infodemiology-based evaluation of the quality and reliability of tetanus-related educational videos on YouTube and TikTok, compare content features across platforms, and explore their implications for public health communication.

Methods:

A cross-sectional infoveillance analysis was conducted by retrieving the top 100 most-viewed tetanus-related videos from YouTube and TikTok (n=200). Video quality and reliability were assessed using the mDISCERN instrument, Global Quality Scale (GQS), and JAMA benchmark criteria (authorship, attribution, currency, disclosure). Video characteristics (e.g., source type, duration, publication date) and engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares) were collected. Spearman correlation analysis examined the associations between video quality scores and engagement indicators.

Results:

Videos published by healthcare organizations scored significantly higher on mDISCERN, GQS, and JAMA criteria than those produced by non-professional users (P<.0001). On YouTube, likes were strongly correlated with views (r=0.975, P<.0001), whereas on TikTok, likes correlated strongly with favorites (r=0.874, P<.0001). Notably, higher engagement did not necessarily indicate better quality, as professional ratings showed only moderate correlations with interaction metrics. Overall, YouTube videos demonstrated slightly higher quality than those on TikTok.

Conclusions:

Both platforms provide valuable opportunities for digital health education on tetanus prevention, yet significant gaps remain in content accuracy, comprehensiveness, and targeting of high-risk populations. Developing standardized quality evaluation frameworks and integrating evidence-based communication strategies into social media health campaigns could enhance public awareness, support vaccination efforts, and strengthen digital public health interventions. Clinical Trial: Not applicable. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of publicly available social media videos and did not involve any human participants, interventions, or clinical trials.