Using a Popular Video Platform to Assess Patient Perceptions of Clubfoot Deformity

Background: In today’s world, individuals receive much of their medical information from the Internet, including social media platforms such as the increasingly popular TikTok, a video-sharing site. This study’s purpose was to better understand the content popular online regarding clubfoot deformity. Methods: The 50 most viewed, English language videos on TikTok with the tags #clubfootjourney, #talipes, #clubfootcast, #clubfoottreatment, and #clubfoot were identified and independently evaluated by 2 separate reviewers for creator demographics, video type, and prominent themes. Videos were also assessed for medical accuracy and given a score for understandability and actionability based on the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Results: In total, the videos had 87.7 million views, 3.8 million “likes”, and 42.1 thousand comments. Health care professionals created 10% of the videos, and only 1 video was made by an orthopaedic surgeon. Of all the videos, including those created by non-health-care professionals, 82% included medically substantiated and accurate claims. A majority of the videos were primarily educational (70%), with the remainder primarily motivational (30%). Tone varied between positive (74%), and neutral (26%) with no negative tone although most watched videos accounting for 30 million views were primarily motivational. Prominent themes included casting journey (32%), medical education/demonstration (22%), and adults with clubfoot deformity (12%). Ideas such as fear, pain, and discomfort (55%), the importance of family support (25%), and hygiene (20%) were also represented. None of the videos exhibited themes of race in medicine or socioeconomic barriers. All videos were also found to have an average understandability of 74.3% and an average actionability of 36.3%, according to the PEMAT. Conclusions: The substantial number of views and “likes” accumulated by these videos highlights the breadth of content and utilization of social media by the public. This study reveals an opportunity for health care professionals to reach patients with accurate information, identify areas of fear/distrust, and address negative or incorrect perceptions that pervades a variety of interventions with regards to clubfoot deformity management and treatment.