Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Discussed on TikTok: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
March 2024 | Volume 23 | Issue 3 | e93 | Copyright © March 2024
Published online February 19, 2024
Hannah Peterson BSa, Paige Kingston BSb, Kathryn Lee BAc, Danielle Yee MDb, Margaret Y. Huang BSb, Edwin Korouri BSd, Rosario Aguero MDe, April W. Armstrong MD MPHb
aLoma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA
bKeck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
cSaint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
dRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL
eKeck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Abstract
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful, chronic inflammatory skin disease that negatively affects patient quality of life, and conventional treatments are variably effective. As a result, patients often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for pain relief. Social media enables HS patients to share treatment recommendations. TikTok is a popular social media platform, but little is known about the HS treatments discussed in TikTok videos.
Objective: To evaluate the content and quality of information on TikTok regarding CAM HS therapies.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted by performing a search in TikTok using the terms #hidradenitissuppurativa, #hswarrior, #naturalremedy, #complementarymedicine, #alternativemedicine, and #HStreatment. Two independent reviewers evaluated video quality using the DISCERN and AVA instruments. Linear regressions compared the engagement, DISCERN, and AVA scores among different uploader types.
Results: In total, 91 TikTok videos were analyzed. Videos were uploaded by non-physicians (82.4), dermatologists (6.6%), and private companies (11.0%). The average DISCERN and AVA scores were 36.2 and 1.6, respectively (poor quality). Common CAM therapies were natural salves, turmeric, Epsom salts, elimination diets, and zinc supplements. Physician-uploaded videos were of significantly higher quality than videos by other uploader types, with an average DISCERN and AVA score of 44.3 (P<0.009) and 2.6 (P<0.001), respectively (fair quality).
Conclusion: TikTok videos were poor quality (low DISCERN and AVA scores); physician-uploaded videos were fair quality. Dermatologists can improve video quality by adequately discussing the supporting evidence, mechanisms of action, and remaining questions for HS treatments.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(3):e93-96. doi:10.36849/JDD.7738e
INTRODUCTION
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful, chronic inflammatory skin disease that negatively impacts quality of life.
1-6 Conventional HS therapies are variably effective,
2 and patients often turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for relief.
6
Most evidence supporting CAM therapies is anecdotal.3 Social media enables HS patients to share treatment recommendations with one another.1,7-10 TikTok is a popular social media platform, but little is known about the HS treatments discussed in TikTok videos.11 This study aims to evaluate the content and quality of information shared on TikTok regarding CAM therapies for HS to better understand patient experiences and facilitate physician-patient discussions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted by performing a search in TikTok using the terms #hidradenitissuppurativa, #hswarrior, #naturalremedy, #complementarymedicine, #alternativemedi-cine, and #HStreatment. The top 60 videos discussing CAM HS treatments and the top 31 videos discussing conventional HS treatments were included. Videos were analyzed if they discussed HS treatment, and if they contained audio and/or text that could be analyzed for content quality. Videos were excluded if they did not meet these requirements.
For each video, descriptive characteristics, including uploader type (physician, non-physician, or private company) and viewer engagement score were collected.
