Analysis of Acute Non-specific Back Pain Content on TikTok: An Exploratory Study.

Zheluk, A; Anderson, J; Dineen-Griffin, S

Analysis of Acute Non-specific Back Pain Content on TikTok: An Exploratory Study.

Zheluk, A Anderson, J Dineen-Griffin, S

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Publisher:: Cureus, Inc.
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cureus, 2022, 14, (1), pp. 1-16
Issue Date:: 2022-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Zheluk, A
dc.contributor.author	Anderson, J
dc.contributor.author	Dineen-Griffin, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7080-0108
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-27T04:38:07Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-19
dc.date.available	2022-09-27T04:38:07Z
dc.date.issued	2022-01
dc.identifier.citation	Cureus, 2022, 14, (1), pp. 1-16
dc.identifier.issn	2168-8184
dc.identifier.issn	2168-8184
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162120
dc.description.abstract	Introduction In this study, we evaluated the scope of acute non-specific back pain (ANSBP) content available on TikTok (ByteDance Ltd, Beijing, China) in 2021. It is plausible that TikTok's popularity among teenagers, adolescents, and young adults may influence decision-making about what constitutes appropriate ANSBP self-care among a younger age cohort. Methods We examined 157 of the most viewed videos available through the hashtag #backpain available on TikTok in September 2021. We examined the following research questions: (1) What are the metadata characteristics of the videos in the final data set?, (2) What are the creator identities reflected in the final data set in this study?, (3) What are the ANSBP self-care content themes in the final data set?, and (4) What are the characteristics of the data set based on a low back pain reference checklist based on consensus guidelines?. Results We identified clear differences based on TikTok creator identity in our data set of most popular videos. We examined videos created by chiropractors, fitness professionals, influencers, physicians, physiotherapists, and other creator identities. We found that the TikTok videos created by chiropractors were consistently among the most viewed, most commented, and most shared. Conversely, chiropractic TikTok videos consistently had the lowest self-care reference checklist scores relative to all other disciplines. That is, TikTok videos created by chiropractors were least likely to reflect the scientific consensus on treating ANSBP. Discussion TikTok is an increasingly popular medium for disseminating short health messages. The main cohort using TikTok is young and at risk of ANSBP. However, we postulate that the messages reaching young TikTok users overall do not generally reflect the self-care advice described in consensus guidelines. Conclusion TikTok is a popular social media channel among young people. However, the most viewed TikTok videos about ANSBP are not produced by mainstream health professionals and the videos featuring the #backpain hashtag do not generally reflect contemporary evidence-based practice. There is considerable scope for mainstream health professionals to provide evidence-informed self-management and self-care content for ANSBP on TikTok.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Cureus, Inc.
dc.relation.ispartof	Cureus
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.7759/cureus.21404
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.title	Analysis of Acute Non-specific Back Pain Content on TikTok: An Exploratory Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	14
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Pharmacy
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-09-27T04:38:06Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	14
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Introduction In this study, we evaluated the scope of acute non-specific back pain (ANSBP) content available on TikTok (ByteDance Ltd, Beijing, China) in 2021. It is plausible that TikTok's popularity among teenagers, adolescents, and young adults may influence decision-making about what constitutes appropriate ANSBP self-care among a younger age cohort. Methods We examined 157 of the most viewed videos available through the hashtag #backpain available on TikTok in September 2021. We examined the following research questions: (1) What are the metadata characteristics of the videos in the final data set?, (2) What are the creator identities reflected in the final data set in this study?, (3) What are the ANSBP self-care content themes in the final data set?, and (4) What are the characteristics of the data set based on a low back pain reference checklist based on consensus guidelines?. Results We identified clear differences based on TikTok creator identity in our data set of most popular videos. We examined videos created by chiropractors, fitness professionals, influencers, physicians, physiotherapists, and other creator identities. We found that the TikTok videos created by chiropractors were consistently among the most viewed, most commented, and most shared. Conversely, chiropractic TikTok videos consistently had the lowest self-care reference checklist scores relative to all other disciplines. That is, TikTok videos created by chiropractors were least likely to reflect the scientific consensus on treating ANSBP. Discussion TikTok is an increasingly popular medium for disseminating short health messages. The main cohort using TikTok is young and at risk of ANSBP. However, we postulate that the messages reaching young TikTok users overall do not generally reflect the self-care advice described in consensus guidelines. Conclusion TikTok is a popular social media channel among young people. However, the most viewed TikTok videos about ANSBP are not produced by mainstream health professionals and the videos featuring the #backpain hashtag do not generally reflect contemporary evidence-based practice. There is considerable scope for mainstream health professionals to provide evidence-informed self-management and self-care content for ANSBP on TikTok.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/162120