TY - JOUR
T1 - Public views, patterns, and impacts of social networking site use for medicine-related information in Saudi Arabia
T2 - A cross-sectional study
AU - Alhomoud, Faten
AU - Alhomoud, Farah Kais
AU - Al Muslim, Amal
AU - Altheeb, Sarah
AU - Al Subait, Rana
AU - Alsadah, Hawra
AU - Alsultan, Bayan
AU - Alamer, Marwah
AU - Alqurain, Aymen Ali
AU - Alfageh, Basmah
AU - Almoghirah, Hailah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
PY - 2026/4/1
Y1 - 2026/4/1
N2 - Introduction: Social networking sites (SNSs) are increasingly used as sources of health and medicine-related information, offering accessible communication but raising concerns about misinformation and its impact on medication-related behaviors. This study examined public views, patterns of use, and factors associated with using SNSs for medicine-related information in Saudi Arabia, as well as the perceived impact on medication-related decisions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥18 years residing in Saudi Arabia who used at least one SNS. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed via multiple social media platforms using a secure web-based survey (QuestionPro). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Of 651 participants, 60.2% used SNSs to seek medicine-related information. YouTube was the most commonly used platform, followed by X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Commonly searched topics included medication side effects, long-term effects, and mechanisms of action. Nearly one quarter reported altering or discontinuing medications, 25.0% initiated treatments based on SNS information, and 14.5% experienced adverse effects. Higher SNS use was associated with residence outside the Eastern Province, whereas retired participants and those using prescription or over-the-counter medications were less likely to rely on SNSs. Conclusions: SNSs are widely used by the Saudi public for medicine-related information and significantly influence medication-related behaviors. Despite their convenience, these platforms pose risks related to misinformation. Greater involvement of healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, is needed to provide evidence-based medication information and enhance medication literacy and patient safety.
AB - Introduction: Social networking sites (SNSs) are increasingly used as sources of health and medicine-related information, offering accessible communication but raising concerns about misinformation and its impact on medication-related behaviors. This study examined public views, patterns of use, and factors associated with using SNSs for medicine-related information in Saudi Arabia, as well as the perceived impact on medication-related decisions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥18 years residing in Saudi Arabia who used at least one SNS. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed via multiple social media platforms using a secure web-based survey (QuestionPro). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Of 651 participants, 60.2% used SNSs to seek medicine-related information. YouTube was the most commonly used platform, followed by X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Commonly searched topics included medication side effects, long-term effects, and mechanisms of action. Nearly one quarter reported altering or discontinuing medications, 25.0% initiated treatments based on SNS information, and 14.5% experienced adverse effects. Higher SNS use was associated with residence outside the Eastern Province, whereas retired participants and those using prescription or over-the-counter medications were less likely to rely on SNSs. Conclusions: SNSs are widely used by the Saudi public for medicine-related information and significantly influence medication-related behaviors. Despite their convenience, these platforms pose risks related to misinformation. Greater involvement of healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, is needed to provide evidence-based medication information and enhance medication literacy and patient safety.
KW - drug
KW - drug information services
KW - health information
KW - information technology
KW - internet
KW - medicine
KW - social media
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037076901
U2 - 10.1177/22799036261444088
DO - 10.1177/22799036261444088
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105037076901
SN - 2279-9028
VL - 15
JO - Journal of Public Health Research
JF - Journal of Public Health Research
IS - 2
ER -