Stratified and combined analysis of the quality of lumbar spinal stenosis–related videos on major Chinese short video platforms

Background Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a degenerative disorder in which narrowing of the spinal canal compresses neural elements, causing pain, numbness, and limited mobility. With the rapid growth of Chinese short video platforms (TikTok, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, Kwai, and WeChat), the public increasingly relies on short videos for LSS-related health information. However, the quality of such content has not been systematically evaluated. Methods This cross-sectional content analysis searched each of five platforms using “lumbar spinal stenosis,” screened the top 100 results, and included 412 videos after applying predefined criteria. Basic characteristics and engagement metrics were extracted. Analyses were stratified by platform, uploader type, and video category. Video quality and reliability were assessed using the Global Quality Score (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN), and JAMA benchmark criteria. Spearman correlation analysis examined associations between video characteristics and quality scores. Results High-quality content was concentrated on Bilibili and WeChat, particularly scientific explanations and professional course videos uploaded by healthcare professionals, whereas Kwai showed consistently low GQS scores across uploader types and categories. Video duration was moderately and positively correlated with GQS ( r = 0.423), mDISCERN ( r = 0.340), and JAMA scores ( r = 0.357; all p 0.001). Follower count and most engagement metrics (likes, saves, shares) showed only weak correlations with quality. Conclusions Overall, the quality and reliability of LSS-related short videos on major Chinese platforms are suboptimal, with marked inter-platform variation. Content from non-professional uploaders and personal experience–focused videos tended to be of lower quality. Healthcare professionals and medical institutions should actively disseminate evidence-based LSS information via short video platforms, and viewers should preferentially seek credible, verifiable sources.