Quality indicators, reliability, transparency and content completeness of short-video information on traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia across three major Chinese platforms: a cross-sectional study
6 affiliations
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing, Beijing, China
- 2Anshun Technical College, Anshun, China
- 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- 4School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- 5Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shaoxing Shangyu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shaoxing, China
- 6Department of Nephrology, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing, China
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate quality indicators, informational reliability, transparency and content completeness of short-video information on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for insomnia across three major Chinese platforms.
Design: Cross-sectional content analysis.
Setting: Douyin, Rednote and Bilibili. Videos were retrieved between 2 and 4 February 2026 using the Chinese-language search term “中医治疗失眠” (“traditional Chinese medicine treatment for insomnia”), and the first 100 videos returned by the default comprehensive ranking on each platform were screened.
Participants: Of 300 videos screened, 242 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis.
Methods: Included videos were coded for platform, uploader type, duration and engagement. Information quality, reliability and transparency were assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), modified DISCERN and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, respectively. Content completeness was assessed using a prespecified five-domain framework. Multivariable ordinal regression models were used to examine factors associated with GQS and content completeness.
Results: Overall informational quality was modest, with median scores of 3 for GQS, 1 for modified DISCERN and 1 for the JAMA benchmark; the median content-completeness score was 6. Coverage was uneven across domains, with treatment-related information more frequently addressed than prognosis and long-term management. In the partial proportional-odds model for GQS, specialist uploader status (OR 5.97, 95% CI 2.93 to 12.16) and longer video duration (OR 1.14 per minute, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.20) were associated with higher GQS categories, whereas platform effects varied across GQS thresholds. For content completeness, associations with uploader type and video duration varied across score thresholds. Within-platform standardised log-likes were not associated with either outcome after adjustment in exploratory analyses.
Conclusions: Short-video information on TCM for insomnia showed variable quality and incomplete coverage of important informational domains. The findings reflect a time-specific, high-visibility sample rather than all relevant content on the three platforms. More structured health communication may improve informational value.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026quality,
title = {{Quality indicators, reliability, transparency and content completeness of short-video information on traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia across three major Chinese platforms: a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Yaoming Yang and Xinbao Wang and Zeyu Huang and Ran Chen and Liuqing Wu and Jingyun Fan and Yi Yuan and Qingyun Tan and Zhanfei Yu and Guoyong Yu},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121215},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121215},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quality indicators, reliability, transparency and content completeness of short-video information on traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia across three major Chinese platforms: a cross-sectional study
AU - Yaoming Yang
AU - Xinbao Wang
AU - Zeyu Huang
AU - Ran Chen
AU - Liuqing Wu
AU - Jingyun Fan
AU - Yi Yuan
AU - Qingyun Tan
AU - Zhanfei Yu
AU - Guoyong Yu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121215
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121215
AB - Objectives: To evaluate quality indicators, informational reliability, transparency and content completeness of short-video information on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for insomnia across three major Chinese platforms. Design: Cross-sectional content analysis. Setting: Douyin, Rednote and Bilibili. Videos were retrieved between 2 and 4 February 2026 using the Chinese-language search term “中医治疗失眠” (“traditional Chinese medicine treatment for insomnia”), and the first 100 videos returned by the default comprehensive ranking on each platform were screened. Participants: Of 300 videos screened, 242 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Methods: Included videos were coded for platform, uploader type, duration and engagement. Information quality, reliability and transparency were assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), modified DISCERN and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, respectively. Content completeness was assessed using a prespecified five-domain framework. Multivariable ordinal regression models were used to examine factors associated with GQS and content completeness. Results: Overall informational quality was modest, with median scores of 3 for GQS, 1 for modified DISCERN and 1 for the JAMA benchmark; the median content-completeness score was 6. Coverage was uneven across domains, with treatment-related information more frequently addressed than prognosis and long-term management. In the partial proportional-odds model for GQS, specialist uploader status (OR 5.97, 95% CI 2.93 to 12.16) and longer video duration (OR 1.14 per minute, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.20) were associated with higher GQS categories, whereas platform effects varied across GQS thresholds. For content completeness, associations with uploader type and video duration varied across score thresholds. Within-platform standardised log-likes were not associated with either outcome after adjustment in exploratory analyses. Conclusions: Short-video information on TCM for insomnia showed variable quality and incomplete coverage of important informational domains. The findings reflect a time-specific, high-visibility sample rather than all relevant content on the three platforms. More structured health communication may improve informational value.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -