Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40914853›Full record

ArticleHand (New York, N.Y.)2026

Evaluating the Educational Quality and Accuracy of Carpal Tunnel- and Cubital Tunnel-Related Videos on TikTok.

Levi M Travis, Jacob Jahn, Kristen K Dean, Seth D Dodds

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hand (New York, N.Y.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
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

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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.

Levi M TravisDepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-2113-8189
Jacob JahnDepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0745-7049
Kristen K DeanDepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-8441-8460
Seth D DoddsDepartment of Orthopaedics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2206-6003

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe increased utilization of social media platforms, including TikTok, has revolutionized the way that medical information is disseminated and consumed globally. Despite the benefits of rapidly accessible health information, the unregulated nature of TikTok raises significant concerns for the validity and reliability of medical advice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the educational quality and accuracy of information presented on TikTok relating to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cubital tunnel syndrome (CubTS), 2 common upper extremity conditions.

methodsA sample of CTS- and CubTS-related TikToks (n = 225) was identified on August 25, 2024, through specific search criteria, defined through hashtags, and filtered by the most liked videos, to select those with the greatest reach. Information extracted from each TikTok totaled 22 objective and subjective variables, in addition to 16 metrics from the DISCERN questionnaire, a proven tool for assessing consumer health information.

resultsVideos by physicians made up the minority of content while having greater overall DISCERN score, but lower engagement compared with nonphysicians. Alternative-medicine videos included medical recommendations more often than traditional-medicine videos. These videos also were less balanced and unbiased than traditional-medicine videos. Harmful videos had greater engagement than nonharmful videos.

conclusionsThis investigation revealed marked variability in both the quality and reliability of TikTok videos related to CTS and CubTS, demonstrating the need for critical assessment of health information disseminated on social media platforms. Although TikTok is a highly engaging platform, it presents considerable misinformation risks for users seeking health information.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeConsumer Health InformationCubital Tunnel SyndromeSocial MediaVideo RecordingDigital MediaHumansReproducibility of Resultscarpal tunnel syndromecubital tunnel syndromesocial mediaTikTok

Identifiers

PMID40914853
PMCPMC12414986

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

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.