Assessment of the content and quality of palliative care videos on Chinese social media: A cross-sectional analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Short videos on platforms such as Douyin (the Chinese counterpart of TikTok) and RedNote have rapidly expanded, including growing palliative care-related content. This study evaluated the content and quality of such videos in China. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the top 100 palliative care videos on Douyin and RedNote (February 2025) was conducted. Baseline characteristics, content features, and quality indicators were assessed. Spearman correlation examined factors associated with video quality and engagement. Results: Videos on Douyin demonstrated higher popularity (all p < 0.001 except for that of comment counts) and quality (all p < 0.01 except for that of modified DISCERN scale and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Content-Actionability) than those on RedNote. Both platforms exhibited generally moderate content quality (median score of 3, 3, 53.8%, 25%, and 12 for Global Quality Scale, modified DISCERN scale, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Content-Understandability and Actionability, and Video Information and Quality Index, respectively). Video quality is related to both the video interactivity index (all p < 0.05 except for that of comment count) and the uploader's follower count (all p < 0.01). It is also influenced by the uploader's identity type and the video's purpose (all p < 0.05 except for that of Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Content-Actionability). Conclusion: The quality of palliative care-related short videos on Douyin and RedNote is moderate, and there is considerable room for improvement in terms of reliability and accuracy. Platforms should prioritize the recruitment and certification of qualified palliative care professionals, systematically improve content quality, and encourage the contribution of user-generated content from individuals with firsthand palliative care experience. Patient or Public Contribution: Publicly shared content from registered social media users, including self-media creators, patients, and family members, was analyzed to evaluate video quality and characteristics.
Source: Digital Health
Authors: Zeyi Zhang, Xue Chen, Heng Cao, Min Ding
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,000
OpenAlex ID: W7128810107