Attitudes and Awareness Regarding Health Information Sought on Social Media by the Saudi Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background Social media (SM) platforms are commonly used in Saudi Arabia, even for health information. SM platforms allow users to have conversations, share information, and create web content. Given the growing dependence on social media for health-related concerns, it is critical to understand how Saudis use these platforms to get health information. This study aimed to determine the Saudi population's attitude and awareness regarding health information sought on SM. Subject and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from September to October 2024. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed randomly in the Medical City King Saud University family medicine clinic. The questionnaire includes socio-demographic data (i.e., age, gender, marital status, etc.), the most commonly used type of SM, and various questions to assess the knowledge and influence of SM on health information.  Results Among the 330 participants, 117 (63%) were female respondents, and 126 (38.2%) were between 31 and 40 years old. WhatsApp was the most prominent type of SM used at 192 (58.2%). Disease or medical problems were the most notable health information being seen online at 172 (52.1%), and "to be informed" was the most common reason for seeking health information online at 237 (72.4%). The perception of unemployed female respondents that health information obtained from SM is reliable was significantly higher than that of unemployed male respondents (p<0.05). Surprisingly, male participants usually do believe SM can enhance awareness (p = 0.015). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that SM influences the behavior of the adult population seeking health information in Saudi Arabia. Female participants tended to believe that the health information obtained from SM was credible. To be more informed was the primary reason for seeking health information online. There is a need to educate patients visiting family medicine clinics about the reliability of health information obtained online.