Abstract
Wilson disease (WD), a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder of copper metabolism that requires lifelong management and patient education. Short video platforms have become major channels for health information dissemination in China, but the quality and reliability of content related to Wilson disease on these platforms have not been systematically evaluated. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and a total of 153 short videos related to Wilson disease were collected from three platforms: Bilibili, Douyin, and Kuaishou. On January 18, 2026, information quality and reliability assessment was conducted over two days using three validated evaluation tools: GQS for quality assessment, and the mDISCERN and JAMA benchmarks for reliability assessment. Meanwhile, user interaction indicators and video characteristics were extracted. Chi-square test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Videos on Bilibili achieved the highest scores in all three evaluations: GQS (3.34 ± 1.34), mDISCERN (2.84 ± 1.31), and JAMA (2.34 ± 1.24), followed by Douyin and Kuaishou. Among video creators, science communicators had the highest video scores (GQS: 4.40 ± 0.55), rather than health professionals (GQS: 2.91 ± 1.08). Videos with comprehensive themes covering “etiology, symptoms, and treatment” had higher quality scores (GQS 3.45 ± 1.17) and user interaction indicators than those with single themes. There was no correlation between video quality and interaction indicators, but a certain correlation existed between video quality and video duration. There are significant differences in the quality of content related to Wilson disease across different short video platforms, with Bilibili providing the most reliable information. Uploads by health professionals and comprehensive theme content are associated with higher information quality. Measures should be formulated according to the characteristics of different platforms to promote credible health information on Wilson disease, so as to assist patient education.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by theauthors, without undue reservation.
References
Hullon, D. et al. Systematic review of cardiac ventricular dysfunction in Wilson’s Disease: Mechanisms, diagnostic advancements, and management strategies. Future Cardiol. 21(12), 1187–1199 (2025).
Członkowska, A. et al. Wilson disease. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 4(1), 21 (2018).
Zhou, Z. H. et al. Characteristics of neurological Wilson’s Disease with corpus callosum abnormalities. BMC Neurol. 19(1), 85 (2019).
Kamila, G. & Chakrabarty, B. Management of Wilson Disease: The quest continues. Ann. Indian Acad. Neurol. 25(4), 585–586 (2022).
Zhong, H. J. et al. Differential hepatic features presenting in Wilson disease-associated cirrhosis and hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis. World J. Gastroenterol. 25(3), 378–387 (2019).
Nery, F. G. et al. Wilson’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the same patient: Just a coincidence? A case report and literature review. Gastroenterol. Res. 3(6), 287–289 (2010).
Isa, H. M. et al. Genetically confirmed Wilson disease: A retrospective cohort study from Bahrain. Cureus 16(10), e71805 (2024).
Schilsky, M. L. et al. A multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of Wilson disease: Executive summary of the 2022 Practice Guidance on Wilson disease from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology 77(4), 1428–1455 (2023).
Özbek, İC., Hancı, V. & Özduran, E. Digital guidance: Quality and readability analysis of artificial intelligence-generated spondyloarthropathy texts. Turk. J. Osteoporosis 31, 12–18 (2025).
Wang, Q. et al. Effects of social media use for health information on COVID-19-related risk perceptions and mental health during pregnancy: Web-based survey. JMIR Med. Inform. 10(1), e28183 (2022).
Wang, L. et al. Professionalism vs. engagement: Quality of SSc information on WeChat. Front. Public Health 13, 1527853 (2025).
Gunduz, M. E. et al. Evaluating the readability, quality, and reliability of online patient education materials on spinal cord stimulation. Turk. Neurosurg. 34(4), 588–599 (2024).
Qi, Y. et al. A study on satisfaction evaluation of Chinese mainstream short video platforms based on grounded theory and CRITIC-VIKOR. Heliyon 10(9), e30050 (2024).
Ozduran, E., Hanci, V. & Erkin, Y. Evaluating the readability, quality and reliability of online patient education materials on chronic low back pain. Natl. Med. J. India 37(3), 124–130 (2024).
Goldsmith, L. P. et al. Use of social media platforms by migrant and ethnic minority populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. BMJ Open 12(11), e061896 (2022).
Augustyn, Z. et al. An examination of the quality of kidney stone information on YouTube and TikTok. Urolithiasis 53(1), 40 (2025).
Gürsoy, N. & Gürsoy, E. Exploring multifocal IOL experiences: A qualitative study of patient and physician narratives on YouTube. Medicine (Baltimore) 104(33), e43889 (2025).
Wang, J. et al. Assessing the content and quality of GI bleeding information on Bilibili, TikTok, and YouTube: A cross-sectional study. Sci. Rep. 15(1), 14856 (2025).
Bagcier, F., Yurdakul, O. V. & Ozduran, E. Top 100 cited articles on ankylosing spondylitis. Reumatismo 72(4), 218–227 (2021).
Desai, T. et al. Is content really king? An objective analysis of the public’s response to medical videos on YouTube. PLoS ONE 8(12), e82469 (2013).
Boté-Vericad, J. J. et al. Video clips of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet on YouTube: A social media content analysis. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000001216 (2025).
Wong, M. et al. YouTube is a poor source of patient information for knee arthroplasty and knee osteoarthritis. Arthroplast. Today 5(1), 78–82 (2019).
Pillai, A. et al. Educational colonoscopy video enhances bowel preparation quality and comprehension in an inner city population. J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 52(6), 515–518 (2018).
Kasztelan-Szczerbinska, B. & Cichoz-Lach, H. Wilson’s disease: An update on the diagnostic workup and management. J. Clin. Med. 10(21), 5097 (2021).
Liang, Y. et al. Video quality assessment and analysis of gastroesophageal reflux disease on TikTok and Bilibili: Cross-sectional study. J. Multidiscip. Healthc. 17, 5927–5939 (2024).
Peng, J. et al. Assessment of the reliability and quality of pancreatic cancer related short videos on mainstream platforms: Cross-sectional study. BMC Cancer 25(1), 1428 (2025).
Ge, R. et al. The quality and reliability of online videos as an information source of public health education for stroke prevention in Mainland China: Electronic media-based cross-sectional study. JMIR Infodemiol. 5, e64891 (2025).
Ozduran, E. & Büyükçoban, S. Evaluating the readability, quality and reliability of online patient education materials on post-Covid pain. PeerJ 10, e13686 (2022).
Onder, C. E. et al. Evaluation of the reliability and readability of ChatGPT-4 responses regarding hypothyroidism during pregnancy. Sci. Rep. 14(1), 243 (2024).
Abdouh, I. et al. Web-based information on the treatment of the mouth in systemic sclerosis. BMC Rheumatol. 4(1), 61 (2020).
Lamira, A. et al. CBCT-based assessment of root canal treatment using micro-CT reference images. Imaging Sci. Dent. 52(3), 245–258 (2022).
Wang, H. et al. Quality and content evaluation of thyroid eye disease treatment information on TikTok and Bilibili. Sci. Rep. 15(1), 25134 (2025).
Peng, G. et al. Evaluating the reliability and quality of bariatric surgery educational content on TikTok and Bilibili: A cross-sectional content analysis. Obes. Surg. 35(12), 5111–5119 (2025).
Yang, G., Li, X. & Duan, X. Assessment of health information in Chinese atopic dermatitis-related videos: A cross-sectional study. Digit. Health 11, 20552076251346580 (2025).
Li, J. et al. Quality and reliability of Alzheimer’s disease videos on Douyin and Bilibili: A cross-sectional content analysis study. Digit. Health 11, 20552076251398464 (2025).
Ye, C. et al. Gluten-free diet on video platforms: Retrospective infodemiology study. Digit. Health 10, 20552076231224590 (2024).
Yin, H., Huang, X. & Zhou, G. An empirical investigation into the impact of social media fitness videos on users’ exercise intentions. Behav. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030157 (2024).
Sarıbas, E. E. & Kandemır, M. Are videos uploaded by dental professionals on lip repositioning surgery of higher quality? A YouTube video analysis. PLoS ONE 20(9), e0327194 (2025).
Hakami, Z. et al. Thumb-sucking habits and oral health: An analysis of YouTube content. Children (Basel) 9(2), 225 (2022).
Kong, W. et al. TikTok as a health information source: Assessment of the quality of information in diabetes-related videos. J. Med. Internet Res. 23(9), e30409 (2021).
ÖZduran, E. & Hanci, V. YouTube as a source of information about stroke rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurol. Asia 28(4), 907–915 (2023).
Hwang, M. et al. Evaluating the readability, quality, and reliability of responses generated by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity on the most commonly asked questions about Ankylosing spondylitis. PLoS ONE 20(6), e0326351 (2025).
ÖZduran, E. “Bel Ağrısı” ile İlgili Türkçe İnternet Kaynaklı Hasta Eğitim Materyallerinin Okunabilirliklerinin Değerlendirilmesi. Dokuz Eylul Univ. Tip Fak. Derg. 36(2), 135–150 (2022).
Xia, F. & Wang, G. Influence of teach-back strategy on hemodialysis related knowledge level, self-efficacy and self-management in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Sci. Rep. 14(1), 4010 (2024).
Deng, Y. et al. Quality assessment of temporomandibular disorders-related information on Chinese social media: A cross-sectional study. Digit. Health 11, 20552076251327040 (2025).
Jin, H. & Qu, Y. Association between intergenerational support, technology perception and trust, and intention to seek medical care on the internet among Chinese older adults: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. J. Med. Internet Res. 27, e65065 (2025).
Ali Baig, S. et al. Assessment of the quality, content, and reliability of YouTube® videos on diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review with cross-sectional analysis comparing peer-reviewed videos. Endocr. Connect 13(7), e240059 (2024).
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank those who uploaded videos on both platforms.
Funding
This study was funded by the GuangDong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515012890, 2022A1515012413), Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (A2023230), Youth Top-notch Talent of Guangdong TeZhi Plan (2024TQ08A155), Key Project of Medical Research Fund of Jieyang People’s Hospital (ZX202301), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (82302446).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
X-ZH: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Methodology, Investigation, Writing—review and editing. L-YC: Data curation, Writing—review and editing, Visualization, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Conceptualization. L-KS: Data curation, Writing—review and editing, Conceptualization. H-JB: Investigation, Methodology, Writing—review and editing. M-ZQ: Investigation, Writing—review and editing. W-SQ: Methodology, Writing—review and editing. C-HM: Data curation, Methodology, Writing—review and editing. H-J: Visualization, Writing—review and editing, Methodology, L-LL: Writing—review and editing.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Ethics statement
In this study, publicly available, anonymized video content was retrieved from Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili. No personal data were collected, and no interaction with platform users occurred. In compliance with institutional and international ethical guidelines, this research did not involve human subjects. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Jieyang People’s Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Medical University. The authors confirm that all analyses complied with Douyin, Kuaishou, and Bilibili’s platform policies, particularly regarding the use of publicly accessible data for academic research. The ethics committee determined that this study did not constitute human subjects research and that written informed consent was not required due to the use of anonymized, public data.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Generative AI statement
The authors declare that this manuscript was not created using any Generative AI tools. Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article was generated by Hiplot with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Reasonable efforts have been exerted to ensure its accuracy, including review by the authors whenever feasible. Should you identify any issues, please contact us.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, Z., Liu, Y., Ma, Z. et al. A cross-sectional analysis of the quality and reliability of Wilson disease videos on Bilibili, Douyin, and Kuaishou. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-47222-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-47222-1
