Mismatch between quality and engagement in myasthenia gravis–related videos: a cross-sectional study on Chinese social media platforms

Abstract

As short-video platforms increasingly play a prominent role in disseminating public health information in China, evaluating the quality of their health-related content is crucial. This study aims to systematically assess the quality, reliability, and content characteristics of videos about myasthenia gravis (MG) on China’s mainstream short-video platforms (Douyin and Red Note). Using “myasthenia gravis” as the keyword, the top 100 videos returned by the default ranking on each platform were retrieved. After excluding duplicate and irrelevant videos, 174 videos, including 98 from Douyin and 76 from Red Note, were included in this cross-sectional content analysis. Transparency, overall informational quality, and general reliability were assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark criteria, Global Quality Score (GQS), and modified DISCERN instrument (mDISCERN), respectively. Video characteristics, uploader identities, content themes, and user engagement indicators were analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods. Physicians were the primary content source, accounting for 74.1% of the included videos. The most frequently addressed topics were treatment and management (47.1%) and clinical symptoms and presentation (40.2%), whereas diagnostic criteria and methods were addressed less frequently (8.0%). The median JAMA, GQS, and mDISCERN scores were 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 3.0–3.0), 3.0 (IQR, 3.0–4.0), and 2.0 (IQR, 2.0–3.0), respectively. Douyin videos had significantly higher raw numbers of likes, comments, saves, and shares than Red Note videos (all P < 0.001). Douyin showed a more favorable distribution of JAMA scores, whereas the median GQS and mDISCERN scores were identical between platforms, despite statistically significant differences in their score distributions. Across uploader groups, significant differences were observed in JAMA and GQS scores, but not in mDISCERN scores ( P = 0.091). Hospitals and public health organizations had the highest median numbers of likes, saves, and shares, whereas videos posted by patients and their families had the highest median number of comments. Correlations between assessment scores and user engagement indicators were generally weak (Spearman’s r ranging from − 0.15 to 0.37). Content related to MG on Chinese short-video platforms generally exhibits moderate quality, with relatively favorable transparency but limited general reliability, and less frequent coverage of diagnostic criteria and examination methods. Content from professional medical sources tends to be better structured and more transparent, while patient-perspective content may generate greater comment engagement. Future efforts should strengthen collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients to improve the accessibility and comprehensibility of clinically reviewed MG-related content on short-video platforms.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Scientific Reports, 2026 · DOI ↗