Quality and reliability of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili: a cross-sectional study

Background With the rapid development of digital media, short-video platforms have become primary channels for the public to access health information. Despite the proliferation of videos regarding hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), their quality and reliability remain unassessed. Methods A cross-sectional search was conducted on TikTok and Bilibili using the keyword "高压氧治疗" on February 25, 2026. The top 100 videos from each platform were selected. Video characteristics, uploader identities, and content themes were extracted. Two independent reviewers assessed video quality and reliability using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tools. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test) and Spearman's rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 172 videos were included (98 from TikTok, 74 from Bilibili). The overall quality was moderate, yielding a median GQS of 3.00 and mDISCERN of 2.00. TikTok videos showed significantly higher user engagement metrics and GQS scores compared to Bilibili ( p  = 0.019). Videos uploaded by healthcare professionals demonstrated significantly superior quality and reliability scores ( p  < 0.001). However, adverse effects and potential complications were rarely mentioned (2.91%). A subgroup analysis revealed that videos promoting off-label anti-aging benefits (11.04%) were predominantly uploaded by non-professionals (73.68%) and generated exceptionally high collections despite lacking scientific rigor. Furthermore, user engagement indicators (likes, collections, comments, and shares) showed no significant correlation with video quality scores ( p  > 0.05). Conclusions HBOT-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili exhibit moderate quality and reliability, accompanied by a concerning omission of safety information. While healthcare professionals produce more accurate content, high user engagement does not equate to scientific validity. Improved digital communication strategies and strict platform regulations are urgently needed to disseminate high-quality, evidence-based HBOT information to the public. Trial registration Not applicable.