Douyin and Bilibili as sources of information on lung cancer in China through assessment and analysis of the content and quality

Lung cancer has emerged as a major global public health concern. With growing public interest in lung cancer, online searches for related information have surged. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the credibility, quality, and value of lung cancer-related videos on digital media platforms remains unexamined. This study aimed to assess the informational quality and content of lung cancer-related videos on Douyin and Bilibili. A total of 200 lung cancer-related videos that met the criteria were selected from Douyin and Bilibili for evaluation and analysis. The first step involved recording and analyzing the basic information provided in the videos. Subsequently, the source and type of content for each video were identified. All videos' educational content and quality were then evaluated using JAMA, GQS, and Modified DISCERN. Douyin videos were found to be more popular in terms of likes, comments, favorites, and shares, whereas Bilibili videos were longer in duration (P < .001). The majority of video content on both platforms comprised lung cancer introductions (31/100, 31%), with medical professionals being the primary source of uploaded videos (Douyin, n = 55, 55%; Bilibili, n = 43, 43%). General users on Douyin scored the lowest on the JAMA scale, whereas for-profit businesses scored the highest (2.50 points). The results indicated that the videos' informational quality was insufficient. Videos from science communications and health professionals were deemed more reliable regarding completeness and content quality compared to videos from other sources. The public should exercise caution and consider the scientific validity when seeking healthcare information on short video platforms.