Background: Douyin APP is the short video APP with the largest number of users in China.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of short videos about cosmetic surgery on Douyin.
Methods: In August 2022, we retrieved and screened 300 short videos related to cosmetic surgery from Douyin, extracted basic video information, encoded the content and identified the video source. The quality and reliability of short video information were evaluated using the DISCERN instrument.
Results: A total of 168 short videos of cosmetic surgery were included in the survey, and the video sources included personal accounts and institutional accounts. Overall, the total proportion of institutional accounts (47/168, 27.98%) is significantly less than that of personal accounts (121/168, 72.02%); nonhealth professionals received the most praises, comments and even collections and reposts, while for-profit academic organizations or institutions received the least. The DISCERN scores of 168 short videos of cosmetic surgery were 3.74-4.58 (average 4.22). Content reliability (p = .04) and overall short video quality (p = .02) are significantly different, but short videos published from different sources have no significant difference in treatment selection (p = .052).
Conclusion: The overall information quality and reliability of short videos about cosmetic surgery on Douyin are satisfactory in China.
Patient or public contribution: The participants were involved in developing research questions, study design, management and conduct, interpretation of evidence and dissemination.
Keywords: Douyin; cosmetic surgery; information quality; medical science; reliability evaluation.
© 2023 The Authors. Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.