Abstract
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a progressive orthopedic disorder characterized by a significant rate of impairment. With the proliferation of short-video platforms in health communication, apprehensions have emerged over the quality and credibility of medical information shared through these mediums. Nevertheless, investigations specifically focusing on ANFH remain mostly unexamined. This research utilized a cross-sectional approach to examine 177 videos pertaining to ANFH on TikTok and Bilibili. The recorded data encompassed video sources, content themes, expression forms, and interaction metrics, with quality assessment performed according to four criteria. The overall video quality was average (GQS = 3, mDISCERN = 3, JAMA = 3, VIQI = 12). Healthcare personnel constituted the predominant uploaders (72.88%), with chief physicians representing 32.77%. Videos primarily showcased monologues (58.19%), with video content focused on treatment (71.75%) and symptoms (68.93%). Surgical operations are the predominant therapeutic modality, accounting for 36.72%. TikTok videos had a shorter median duration of 56 s but elicited higher interaction (P < 0.001) and exhibited enhanced performance in JAMA and VIQI scores (P < 0.001). Videos produced by attending/registered physicians demonstrated superior quality, while Q&A-format videos revealed improved reliability compared to monologues. Interaction metrics showed weak-to-moderate associations with quality scores overall, with relatively stronger correlations observed between interaction metrics and GQS and VIQI scores, particularly on TikTok. The general quality of short videos on ANFH is average, with considerable variations among platforms and uploaders. Efforts must concentrate on fortifying early preventive education, harmonizing surgical and conservative treatment methods, and instituting expert review and certification systems to improve the scientific precision and distribution efficacy of orthopedic health information on social media.