A NEW study has revealed that TikTok videos on sudden cardiac death vary significantly in quality and accuracy, with healthcare professionals producing more reliable information but attracting less engagement than non-professional creators.
Sudden cardiac death, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, often occurs unexpectedly and requires rapid recognition and response. As younger audiences increasingly turn to social media platforms such as TikTok for health information, concerns have grown about the reliability of content shared in these spaces. This latest analysis highlights a clear divide between content quality and audience reach.
TikTok Videos Show Alarming Quality and Engagement Gap
Researchers evaluated 83 of the most popular TikTok videos related to sudden cardiac death, analysing engagement metrics alongside information quality using established assessment tools, including DISCERN, modified Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and a modified CRAAP test. Videos were also categorised based on whether they were created by healthcare professionals or non-healthcare creators.
The findings showed that videos produced by non-healthcare creators consistently achieved higher engagement. These videos had significantly greater numbers of reshares (p=0.0050), favourites (p=0.0495), and overall engagement rates (p=0.0014). However, this popularity was not due to the content providing higher-quality information.
In contrast, healthcare professional-created videos scored significantly higher across all quality measures, including DISCERN, JAMA, and CRAAP assessments (all p<0.0001). These videos were more likely to clearly outline their aims and provide balanced discussions of both the benefits and risks of treatments. Despite this, they reached smaller audiences and generated less interaction.
Interestingly, sentiment analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups, although non-healthcare videos were more frequently positive in tone. This suggests that engagement may be driven more by presentation style and emotional appeal than by informational accuracy.
Collaboration the Key to More Accurate Content
The study was limited by its focus on a relatively small sample of high-performing videos and the rapidly evolving nature of social media content. Nevertheless, the findings raise important concerns about the spread of potentially misleading health information.
The authors suggested that improving the visibility of accurate, evidence-based content on TikTok may require greater collaboration between healthcare professionals and content creators, as well as potential platform-level interventions. Enhancing both the reach and reliability of sudden cardiac death information online could play a critical role in public education and, ultimately, patient outcomes.
Reference
Bansal M et al. Quality of TikTok videos on sudden cardiac death varies by video characteristics and health information accuracy. Sci Rep. 2026; DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-39081-7.
Featured image: Luiza on Adobe Stock
