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Session:: ePosters-Sat-M7: Benign Anorectal

EP173 - Hemorrhoids Go Viral: An Analysis of Accuracy, Influence, and Misinformation on TikTok and Instagram

Saturday, May 9, 2026
3:31 PM - 3:36 PM ET

    ePoster Presenter(s)

  • Shahenda Khedr, BA

    Research, Graduate Student
    Brown University/New York Presbyterian Queens
    New York Presbyterian Queens
    New York, NY, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Author(s)

  • NF

    Nicholas P. Forgione, n/a

    Research Assistant
    New York Presbyterian
    Whitestone, New York, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Julie Hong, MD

    Resident
    NewYork Presbyterian - Queens
    NewYork Presbyterian - Queens
    Flushing, NY, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • YC

    Yasmeen Chahal, MD

    Resident
    New York Presbyterian- Weill Cornell
    NEW YORK, New York, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • JB

    Julianna Brouwer, MPH

    Research Administrator
    Weill Cornell Medicine
    New York, New York, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Christopher Foglia, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Weill Cornell School of Medicine
    New York, New York, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • RP

    Roger Patron-Lozano, MD

    Assistant Professor
    Weill Cornell Medicine
    Flushing, New York, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Steven Y. Chao, MD FACS

    Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
    Weill Cornell Medicine
    Flushing, New York, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
Steven Y. Chao, MD FACS: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Purpose/Background: Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are major sources of health information, where hemorrhoids are frequently discussed through home remedies, over-the-counter treatments, and lifestyle advice. However, the extent to which this information aligns with evidence-based, or standard-of-care (SOC) management is unclear. This study examines the accuracy and trends of hemorrhoid-related videos on TikTok and Instagram.

Methods/Interventions: New TikTok and Instagram accounts were created to remove algorithmic bias. Using hashtags #hemorrhoids, #hemorrhoidtreatment, #hemorrhoidrelief, #hemorrhoidpain, #surgery, #hemorrhoidsurgery, and #hemorrhoidremedies, videos were identified through intentional searches and unintentional "For You Page" recommendations. Eligible videos were in English, unique, and related to hemorrhoid education or management. Each was screen-recorded and coded by platform, creator type, content category (educational vs. entertainment/lifestyle), advertising status, and SOC alignment. Quantitative metrics (views and likes) were collected, and qualitative analysis categorized advertised themes such as home remedies, topical products, supplements, and lifestyle interventions.

Results/Outcomes: A total of 79 videos posted from 2022-2025 were analyzed (40 TikTok, 39 Instagram): 47(59%) were influencers, 25(32%) physicians, 3(4%) patients, 2(3%) nurses, and 2(3%) others. Of these, 46(58%) were educational and 33(42%) were entertainment/lifestyle content. Educational videos accumulated 24.8M total views across 44 entries (mean = 563K/per video) and 451K total likes (mean = 10.3K/video). Among educational videos, nearly half(48%) contained promotional content. 16 videos promoted supplements, 2 featured diet/lifestyle plans, and 4 home remedies, citing hemorrhoid relief, reduction of inflammation and swelling, and recurrence prevention as benefits. Only 2 videos aligned with SOC or FDA-approved therapies, and 3 focused solely on symptom relief. Entertainment/lifestyle content videos amassed 68.7M total views (mean = 2.15M/video) and 2.3M total likes (mean = 70.3K/video). 11 videos contained advertisements, typically supplements, lifestyle/fitness programs, or home remedies. Common themes emphasized topical treatments, home remedies, lifestyle-based prevention, and hygiene aids for relief and recurrence reduction. No videos aligned with SOC or FDA-approved therapies, and 3 focused solely on symptom relief.

Conclusion/Discussion: Hemorrhoid-related content on TikTok and Instagram has high engagement but does not align with evidence-based medical guidance. Most videos were created by influencers rather than healthcare professionals, and nearly half promoted non-SOC treatments such as supplements, herbal mixtures, or unverified topical products. These findings demonstrate social media's influence on health information and emphasize the need for greater physician presence and public health engagement to counter misinformation and promote credible, evidence-based education on hemorrhoid management.

Distribution of Advertised Product Types Across Educational and Entertainment/Lifestyle Hemorrhoid-Related Videos on TikTok and Instagram