When Taylor Warmoth, MD, a rheumatologist with Arthritis and Osteoporosis Associates (AOA), Lubbock, Texas, posted her first educational video on TikTok in 2022, she anticipated a moderate response. She was surprised when her medical assistant informed her the next day that her video had received over 5,000 views, 800 comments, and her account had gained an additional 3,000 new followers. One year later, Dr. Warmoth has 59,400 TikTok followers.
“I initially launched a TikTok account to answer common questions from my rheumatology patients and to combat online medical misinformation,” says Dr. Warmoth. “If someone is looking for information on lupus or another rheumatic condition on TikTok, I’d rather they receive accurate information from a rheumatologist than [from] someone without a medical degree.”
The prevalence of health misinformation is huge, and Dr. Warmoth is one of a new generation of rheumatologists and other physicians who have taken to social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, to debunk myths and provide accurate, reliable health information. All of the rheumatologists interviewed for this article stress their videos rely on educational information from reputable sources, including the ACR, and they don’t offer medical advice on their social media accounts.
A recent study conducted by CharityRx found that one in five Americans turn to TikTok—before their own doctor—when seeking treatment for a health condition. In addition, the study found that 65% turned to Google before consulting their doctor, 33% turned to YouTube before consulting their doctor, and 37% turned to social media influencers for health advice, believing they are easier to access than medical professionals.
Dr. Warmoth
Dr. Warmoth’s videos posted on her account, @thechatrheum, feature a warm, friendly approach that aligns with her personal philosophy of talking to each patient as if they were a family member. Her videos cover such topics as psoriatic arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia, and answer such questions as, “Does a worsening rash mean your psoriatic arthritis will get worse, too?”
Dr. Warmoth says the response to her videos has been positive and she’s even gotten some new patients as the result of her TikTok account.
“I try to post videos three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” she says. “I have a list of topics to address, and I’ll go into my office, prop my cellphone on the desk and record a video, discussing the topic in an informal, educational way, just like I would do if I were talking to one of my patients.”
