Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39527280›Full record

ArticlePediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany)2025

"None of us asked to be in this community." Understanding nephrotic syndrome through TikTok: patient and caregiver perspectives.

Veronica M Grad, Ahmad Khan, Keegan D'Mello, Amrit Kirpalani

Abstract read
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Article in Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Veronica M GradDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1628-2817
Ahmad KhanDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Keegan D'MelloLawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
Amrit KirpalaniDepartment of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. amrit.kirpalani@lhsc.on.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7567-9052

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTikTok, a popular social media platform, is increasingly used for health information dissemination; however, the accuracy and quality of medical content remain uncertain, including in the context of nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study aims to identify prominent patient and caregiver experiences with NS on TikTok and demonstrate how they may vary.

methodsA convenience sample of TikTok videos containing the hashtag "nephrotic syndrome" posted between July 1, 2020, and February 29, 2024, was analyzed. Videos underwent cyclical and inductive coding, followed by content and discourse analysis to identify common themes and narratives.

resultsOne hundred twenty-three videos were included in the analysis. 62.6% of videos (N = 77) consisted of caregivers sharing their experiences of their child's disease. Three prominent topics included: (1) navigating healthcare and managing illness, where users shared their disease journeys; (2) emotional and physical wellbeing, where caregivers focused on physical disease signs while patients highlighted the mental health toll of the illness; and (3) education, awareness, and support systems, where users shared feelings of social isolation post-diagnosis. The discourse analysis revealed language portraying patients as "warriors," reflecting the resiliency promoted by TikTok support systems.

conclusionsWe uncovered a hidden disease burden associated with NS that affects everyday life, reinforcing the importance of the journey and stress patients and caregivers experience outside of the clinician's office. Our findings also highlight that patient priorities may differ from those reported by caregivers, particularly in pediatrics. TikTok may also be an outlet for feelings of isolation and community-building within NS.

Indexed as

CaregiversInformation DisseminationNephrotic SyndromeSocial MediaAdultChildFemaleHumansMaleDisease burdenMental healthNephrotic syndromeTikTok

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.