Quality and Reliability of Crohn's Disease Information on Douyin and Xiaohongshu

Overview

This study assessed the quality, reliability, and user engagement of Crohn's disease-related videos on Douyin and Xiaohongshu platforms. Using validated tools, it identified variability in content quality across uploader types and highlighted user preferences and concerns reflected in comments.

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with complex management needs and rising incidence in East Asia. Accurate and accessible medical information is crucial for patient self-management and prognosis improvement. Short video platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu have become prominent sources of health information, but concerns exist regarding the quality and reliability of such content. Prior research has shown that professional medical content often receives less public attention compared to non-professional sources, raising questions about the dependability of information available to patients.

Data Highlights

Videos were collected on July 14, 2025, using newly registered accounts to avoid algorithm bias. Inclusion criteria ensured videos were original, Chinese-language, and related to CD. Videos were categorized by uploader type: gastroenterologists, non-gastroenterology doctors, and personal accounts. Content themes included epidemiology, diagnosis, etiology, symptoms, treatment, prevention, prognosis, nursing, and follow-up. Video metrics such as duration, likes, comments, saves, shares, and upload date were recorded for analysis.

Key Findings

• Content quality varied significantly by uploader type, with gastroenterologists producing higher-quality and more reliable videos compared to non-specialists and personal accounts.
• User engagement tended to favor popular science content from non-professional creators despite lower content quality.
• Common video themes included symptom recognition and medication guidance, often delivered in short visual narratives of 15–60 seconds.
• Assessment tools (modified DISCERN, JAMA standards, PEMAT) revealed issues with understandability and operability in many videos, limiting patient comprehension and practical use.
• User comments reflected concerns about treatment options, disease management, and emotional support, indicating the need for comprehensive and empathetic content.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should be aware that patients frequently access CD information from short video platforms where content quality is inconsistent. There is a need to enhance the presence and visibility of professional, high-quality videos to improve patient education. Regulatory bodies and content creators should collaborate to establish standards ensuring accuracy, understandability, and practical guidance in digital health communications.

Conclusion

This cross-platform analysis highlights the variability and challenges in the quality of Crohn's disease-related information on popular Chinese short video platforms. Improving the reliability and accessibility of such content is essential to support effective patient self-management and health outcomes.

References

1. Zhang et al. 2025 -- Assessment of the quality and dependability of Crohn's disease-related information on Douyin and Xiaohongshu