Previously submitted to: JMIR Infodemiology (no longer under consideration since Apr 01, 2026)
Date Submitted: Dec 28, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Jan 7, 2026 - Mar 4, 2026
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A Cross-Platform Analysis of Total Hip Arthroplasty Videos on Douyin and TikTok – Content Quality, Engagement, and Ecosystem Disparities
ABSTRACT
Background:
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is a common surgical procedure, and an increasing number of patients are turning to short-video platforms for information. Although Douyin and TikTok belong to the same parent company, they cater to distinct sociocultural environments.
Objective:
To compare the quality, content, and user engagement of THA-related videos, and to explore the different attitudes of medical professionals and patients on these two platforms.
Methods:
We systematically searched and analyzed 265 THA-related videos and 600 highly liked comments. Video quality was evaluated using the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benchmark, GQS (Global Quality Score), and DISCERN tools. The content and comment themes were categorized. Chi-square test with effect size analysis was used to compare categorical variables, while Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were applied to compare differences in scores.
Results:
The majority of authors on Douyin were medical staff (97.71%), whereas on TikTok, the proportions of science communicators and patients/caregivers were higher (41.04% and 20.15%, respectively). There were significant differences in author backgrounds and content types between the two platforms (p<0.01). Douyin had higher median scores for JAMA and DISCERN (p<0.01), while no significant difference was found in GQS. Significant differences in comment sentiment and themes were observed across platforms, author identities, and content types (p<0.01). Conclusion: Despite technical similarities, Douyin and TikTok exhibit distinct ecosystems: Douyin maintains a doctor-centered, authority-driven model with higher content quality and greater user engagement; TikTok fosters a patient-centered, community-driven model that provides more abundant experience sharing.
Conclusions:
These differences reflect varying cultural attitudes toward medical authority and shared decision-making.
Citation
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