Septoplasty on Social Media: A Content Analysis of Accuracy and Reliability on TikTok (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Social media platforms increasingly shape how patients access health information. TikTok, with over 1.7 billion users, has become a major source of medical content but has also raised concerns regarding misinformation. Septoplasty is one of the most commonly performed otolaryngologic procedures and is frequently discussed on TikTok, yet the quality, reliability, and accuracy of this content remain poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the quality, reliability, and accuracy of septoplasty-related content on TikTok. METHODS A mixed-methods thematic content analysis and cross-sectional review of publicly available TikTok videos was conducted between April and May 2024. Two independent reviewers searched the terms “septoplasty,” “deviated septum,” and “septal reconstruction,” retrieving the first 70 videos for each search term. After applying exclusion criteria, 173 videos were included for analysis. Videos were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), and the Accuracy in Digital-health Instrument (ANDI). Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses were performed to assess differences in quality, reliability, and engagement by creator type. RESULTS A total of 173 videos were analyzed. Overall, septoplasty-related videos demonstrated moderate accuracy (mean ANDI 2.82), low-to-moderate quality (mean GQS 2.31), and low reliability (mean mDISCERN 0.78). Most videos (67.1%) were created by non–health care professionals. Videos produced by physicians had significantly higher accuracy, quality, and reliability scores compared with those produced by nonphysicians (all P ≤ .001). Engagement metrics did not significantly differ by creator type (all P > .30), although verified account status was the strongest predictor of increased engagement. CONCLUSIONS Septoplasty-related content on TikTok demonstrates moderate accuracy but generally low reliability and quality. These findings highlight the potential for misinformation and unrealistic patient expectations. Greater participation by otolaryngologists and other qualified health professionals on social media platforms may improve the dissemination of accurate, evidence-based information about septoplasty. CLINICALTRIAL None.