Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Content on TikTok: An Analysis of Creators, Engagement, and Quality of Content

Objectives TikTok, a social media platform, has become a prominent source of medical information. Growing connectivity and social media have greatly enhanced the ability to disseminate information. However, this also carries a significant risk of spreading inaccuracies and misinformation, which could be detrimental. This study aimed to assess the content type and quality regarding carpal tunnel syndrome, the most common peripheral nerve entrapment, on TikTok. Methods A retrospective review of content related to carpal tunnel syndrome on TikTok was conducted in September 2024. Creator type, video content, and engagement metrics were collected. Videos were subsequently graded by two orthopedic hand surgery fellows using two standardized grading scales: the DISCERN and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) grading systems. Results One hundred twenty-one carpal tunnel syndrome TikTok posts were evaluated. The majority of the content was created by laypeople and focused on exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome. The median views for videos were 190,700, while the median numbers of likes, comments, and shares were 4,868, 76, and 572, respectively. Overall, videos were rated to have poor educational quality (DISCERN score = 27) with partially sufficient content (JAMA score = 2.9). DISCERN ratings were higher in content created by hand surgeons (31) and non-hand surgeon physicians (36) when compared to laypeople (24), physical therapists (26), chiropractors (29), and other content creators (28). Conclusion The overall educational value of TikToks related to carpal tunnel syndrome is poor, with a notable lack of physician-created content. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge the potential impact of poor content quality on TikTok and advise patients to consume online medical advice content with caution.