Abstract
Introduction TikTok, a globally popular short-form video platform, offers a unique space for healthcare professionals to share advice, particularly under common conditions such as knee pain or instability. Despite its popularity, doubts persist regarding the reliability of medical information disseminated on TikTok. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of TikTok videos as a source of patient information on knee instability, recognizing the need for a comprehensive assessment of potential misinformation on this influential social media platform. Methods A search for "knee stability exercises" on TikTok yielded 448 videos, of which 187 met the inclusion criteria. These videos were categorized by source and evaluated using the Knee Exercise Education Scoring Tool (KEEST) and an information analysis questionnaire, DISCERN. Results General user videos (69.84%) had notably lower DISCERN scores than healthcare professional videos (29.1%) across all categories (P < 0.001, P = 0.282, P = 0.131, and P = 0.010). The DISCERN scores were inversely linked to video metrics (views, likes, comments, favorites, and shares). General user videos were largely of poor quality (66.4%), whereas healthcare professional videos spanned poor (61.8%), fair (28.2%), good (9.1%), and excellent (1.8%) categories. Both general users (12.31/25) and healthcare professionals (12.18/25) exhibited average quality according to KEEST standards (P = 0.809), with an intriguing inverse correlation between video popularity and DISCERN score. Conclusion Healthcare professionals demonstrated superior evidence-based content (DISCERN), whereas both groups were comparatively educated on treatment plans and effects (KEEST). TikTok's prevalent knee instability videos lack quality, proper sourcing, treatment risk information, and explanation. Moreover, popularity is inversely correlated with quality, and healthcare professionals appear to offer better evidence-based content. TikTok's role in healthcare highlights the importance of ensuring accurate information and implementing content quality regulations.