Quality and reliability of short videos about long COVID on bilibili and tiktok: cross-sectional study under health community construction background in China

Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment, continues to pose a global public health burden. Bilibili and TikTok are major platforms for public health information; however, the lack of systematic evaluation contributes to low-quality information and may hinder effective health management. We aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of long COVID-related videos on these platforms.

This cross-sectional study analyzed long COVID-related videos from Bilibili and TikTok. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Quality and reliability were evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS) and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN). Multivariate linear regression was performed to identify the independent predictors of video quality.

The median GQS and mDISCERN scores were both significantly higher for Bilibili than for TikTok (P = 0.016 and P = 0.039, respectively). Professional-source videos showed significantly higher quality than non-professional ones (P < 0.001). Regression analyses revealed that a professional source was the strongest independent predictor of both GQS and mDISCERN scores (all P < 0.001). Video duration and shares were significantly, albeit weakly, associated with the GQS, whereas other engagement metrics were not.

The overall quality of long COVID videos was suboptimal. Professional source was the primary independent predictor of higher quality, while engagement and duration showed limited influence. Strengthening platform review mechanisms and promoting evidence-based information are needed to improve public health communication.