Scroll, Learn, Replace: Evaluating TikTok’s Role in Patient Education in Total Knee Arthroplasty
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background With the rise of internet access and social media use, finding medical information has become easier than ever. Increasingly, medical professionals (MPs) are using video-sharing platforms such as TikTok to disseminate educational material. This study aims to assess the quality of educational content related to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) treatment on TikTok. Methods On July 31, 2025, using the search terms "total knee arthroplasty," "knee replacement surgery," and "TKA," the first 150 videos produced by TikTok were compiled. After applying exclusion criteria, 59 videos were reviewed using the following assessments: Global Quality Score (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark, Health on the Net Code, The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials, and a modified DISCERN. Results The 59 videos had a cumulative total of 2,738,858 views. Videos created by MPs had higher average scores in GQS (2.29 vs 1.31; P = .00047), Journal of the American Medical Association (1.76 vs 1.31; P = .00056), Health on the Net Code (3.95 vs 2.40; P = <0.000001), The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Audiovisual Materials Understandability (8.29 vs 7.20; P = .0033), and modified DISCERN (2.3 vs 1.1; P = <0.0008) when compared to videos created by non-MPs. Conclusions TikTok demonstrates potential as a platform for disseminating educational content related to TKA. Although videos created by MPs scored higher across all evaluation metrics compared with those produced by non-MPs, the overall educational quality of available content remains limited. Improving video quality requires citing credible sources, providing supplementary learning materials, and disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
Source: Arthroplasty Today
Authors: Trace Clark, Alexander Burbelo, Kelsey Crawford, William Stone, Andrew Huffman, Matthew Bullock
Institution: Marshall University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
OpenAlex ID: W7153610893