title: The Prevalence of Using Social Media among Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Keeping up-to-date with new health information is a necessity for healthcare professionals. Today, social media platforms such as Twitter, among others, are important sources for healthcare professionals. Within the Arab world, little is known about how healthcare professionals use social media to update their healthcare information. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of healthcare professionals, primarily physicians, in seeking online health information in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a web-based survey among Twitter participants between February 1 and March 10, 2015. The primary outcome measures were the self-reported rates of Twitter use, perceived effects, and the influence of Twitter information on clinical practice. Our results revealed that the prevalence rate of physician's seeking online health information was 79% (n=166); the majority of them (71.4%, n=150) reported that Twitter had a significant impact in increasing their medical knowledge and in improving their clinical practice. Over half of the survey participates reported the need for investment in establishing trustworthy and credible health Twitter accounts. The participants reported that their preference for social media health accounts that focus on women's health, non-communicable disease and psychotherapy (20%, 18.1% and 14.5% respectively). The findings showed clearly that seeking web-based medical information through social media is popular among physicians, in general, but especially among younger physicians in Saudi Arabia. The study findings indicate to the necessity for further research on designing and implementing a national social media based educational outreach program to provide evidence-based healthcare information and improve healthcare providers' knowledge and skills in Saudi Arabia.
authors.affiliation: Riyadh college of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almaiman
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahkali
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz Medical city, Ministry of national Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Farhan
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Samera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bamuhair
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mowafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Househ
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alsurimi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult