Patient preferences for teleradiology services and remote image interpretation: An empirical study.

STUDY PURPOSE: This study aims to examine patient preferences for teleradiology services and remote image interpretation. In this context, this study aims to address the following research questions: (i) How do patients perceive teleradiology services, focusing specifically on comfort, quality of care and satisfaction, communication and information, and accessibility and ease of use; (ii) How do patient demographics (age, gender, urban vs. rural residence) influence the perceptions on teleradiology services? METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The survey comprises five sections targeting demographic information, comfort, and preferences regarding remote image interpretation, perceived quality of care and satisfaction, communication and information clarity, and accessibility and technology aspects using five-point Likert scale ratings. A total of 406 patients (209 males and 197 females; 170 urban residents; 174 semi-urban residents, and 62 rural residents) using teleradiology services participated in the study. RESULTS: Participants reported high satisfaction with remote image interpretation (3.78 ± 1.19), quality of care (3.31 ± 1.19), understanding (3.84 ± 1.43), and user-friendliness (3.67 ± 1.29). Key issues were technical problems (3.81 ± 1.35), feedback difficulties (3.19 ± 1.58), privacy concerns (2.43 ± 1.46), and low awareness (2.37 ± 1.12). Urban participants scored significantly better in comfort, preferences, and communication than those from semi-urban and rural areas. CONCLUSION: Teleradiology design and implementation should be optimized to align with patient preferences and enhance overall satisfaction.

Quality of life and psychosocial impact on patients with blood disorders: An empirical study from patients' perspectives in Saudi Arabia.

STUDY PURPOSE: this study aims to analyze QOL and psychosocial impact on patients with blood disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The survey questionnaire included SF-36 form for measuring quality of life (QOL), along with psychosocial impact assessment scale. Adult patients with different types of blood disorders were recruited for the survey. Out of the 417 responses received, 389 were considered for data analysis and the remaining were avoided due to incomplete data. RESULTS: In terms of psychosocial impact scales, the highest mean is observed for financial stress (4.09 ± 1.22), followed by social exclusion (3.76 ± 1.19) and relationship challenges (3.31 ± 1.18). Among the QOL scales, the highest mean was observed for pain (3.81 ± 1.17), followed by physical functioning (3.68 ± 1.12). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the participants groups characterized by age and type of disorder. Strong positive correlations between social exclusion and general health (r = 0.513), as well as pain and relationship challenges (r = 0.735) were observed. CONCLUSION: Given the existing challenges in social exclusion, poor awareness, and support there is a need to develop comprehensive and personalized treatment plans integrating physical and mental support, awareness creation, and financial support.

Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2018.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still among the leading causes of disease burden and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and the world is not on track to meet targets set for ending the epidemic by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precise HIV burden information is critical for effective geographic and epidemiological targeting of prevention and treatment interventions. Age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence estimates are widely available at the national level, and region-wide local estimates were recently published for adults overall. We add further dimensionality to previous analyses by estimating HIV prevalence at local scales, stratified into sex-specific 5-year age groups for adults ages 15-59 years across SSA. METHODS: We analyzed data from 91 seroprevalence surveys and sentinel surveillance among antenatal care clinic (ANC) attendees using model-based geostatistical methods to produce estimates of HIV prevalence across 43 countries in SSA, from years 2000 to 2018, at a 5 × 5-km resolution and presented among second administrative level (typically districts or counties) units. RESULTS: We found substantial variation in HIV prevalence across localities, ages, and sexes that have been masked in earlier analyses. Within-country variation in prevalence in 2018 was a median 3.5 times greater across ages and sexes, compared to for all adults combined. We note large within-district prevalence differences between age groups: for men, 50% of districts displayed at least a 14-fold difference between age groups with the highest and lowest prevalence, and at least a 9-fold difference for women. Prevalence trends also varied over time; between 2000 and 2018, 70% of all districts saw a reduction in prevalence greater than five percentage points in at least one sex and age group. Meanwhile, over 30% of all districts saw at least a five percentage point prevalence increase in one or more sex and age group. CONCLUSIONS: As the HIV epidemic persists and evolves in SSA, geographic and demographic shifts in prevention and treatment efforts are necessary. These estimates offer epidemiologically informative detail to better guide more targeted interventions, vital for combating HIV in SSA.

Role of Social Media in Diabetes Management in the Middle East Region: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a major health care burden in the Middle East region. Social networking tools can contribute to the management of diabetes with improved educational and care outcomes using these popular tools in the region. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to evaluate the impact of social networking interventions on the improvement of diabetes management and health outcomes in patients with diabetes in the Middle East. METHODS: Peer-reviewed articles from PubMed (1990-2017) and Google Scholar (1990-2017) were identified using various combinations of predefined terms and search criteria. The main inclusion criterion consisted of the use of social networking apps on mobile phones as the primary intervention. Outcomes were grouped according to study design, type of diabetes, category of technological intervention, location, and sample size. RESULTS: This review included 5 articles evaluating the use of social media tools in the management of diabetes in the Middle East. In most studies, the acceptance rate for the use of social networking to optimize the management of diabetes was relatively high. Diabetes-specific management tools such as the Saudi Arabia Networking for Aiding Diabetes and Diabetes Intelligent Management System for Iraq systems helped collect patient information and lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The reviewed studies demonstrated the potential of social networking tools being adopted in regions in the Middle East to improve the management of diabetes. Future studies consisting of larger sample sizes spanning multiple regions would provide further insight into the use of social media for improving patient outcomes.

The evolution and mapping trends of mobile health (m-Health): a bibliometric analysis (1997-2023).

Background: Mobile health (m-Health) is widely acknowledged as a pivotal domain for improving global healthcare and driving its digital health transformation. Despite the vast amount of literature published in recent years, bibliometric studies on m-Health remain limited in scope and coverage. This study presents a comprehensive review of m-Health literature extracted from Scopus and PubMed databases, spanning the period from 1997 to 2023, including publications during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: The combined Scopus and PubMed databases were used in this study. The search formula for the literature retrieval used the most appropriate and relevant keywords to m-Health. The bibliometric data importation, extraction and analysis of authors, titles, publication date, publication place, publisher, volume number, issue number, citation count, document type, author keywords, affiliation were all carried out using the 'Biblioshiny', 'EndNote X9®', 'Microsoft Excel®' and 'Microsoft Access®' software tools. Duplicate records were manually identified and removed. Visualization maps illustrating the recurrent keywords, collaboration patterns, and prolific publishing countries were generated using 'VOSviewer®'. Results: A total of 37,470 (20,703 from Scopus and 16,767 from PubMed) publications were selected for the literature analysis. The results provided the definitive literature evidence on the origin of the concept of m-Health in 2003. Significant increase in the publications followed the global surge of smart phones usage in 2007, and the emergence of m-Health applications (Apps) and their global markets and ecosystems. The number of the publications peaked between 2013 and 2022 with most citations in 2022. There was noticeable spike in m-Health literature during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also showed that most of the highly cited publications, leading institutions, and most prolific authors were predominantly from the developed countries. The USA has the highest number of publications followed by the UK, Australia, Germany, Canada and China, with most of the prolific authors originating from these countries. Conclusions: In conclusion, while there has been a remarkable increase in global m-Health publications since 2003, most of the impactful literature and publications in this area originated from selected countries in the developed world. The study indicates a significant disparity between the published literature from developed compared to the developing countries. Addressing this disparity, further bibliographical studies are required to address these and other literature gaps.

Examining the Relationship Between Anxiety, Depression, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among University Students: A Campus-Wide Survey Analysis.

STUDY PURPOSE: This study investigates the relationship between anxiety, depression, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among university students through a comprehensive campus-wide survey. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey design was adopted in this study. A total of 437 students from three public medical universities in Saudi Arabia participated in the survey, which assessed anxiety and depression using standardized scales and GI symptoms through a tailored questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings reveal a significant overlap between mental health disorders and GI symptoms, highlighting that students experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression frequently report GI issues. This correlation underscores the importance of integrated health strategies to address both mental and physical well-being. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that there is a significant correlation between anxiety, depression, and GI symptoms among university students. This highlights the need for comprehensive and integrated health interventions that address both mental and physical health to improve overall well-being and academic success in this population.

Impact of ChatGPT on Teleconsultants in Healthcare: Perceptions of Healthcare Experts in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of ChatGPT on teleconsultants in managing their operations and services. Methods: A qualitative approach with focus groups is adopted in this study. A total of 54 participants with varying degrees of experience using AI such as ChatGPT in healthcare, including 11 physicians, 24 nurses, eight dieticians, six pharmacists, and five physiotherapists providing teleconsultations participated in this study. Results: Twelve themes including informational support, diagnostic assistance, communication, enhancing efficiency, cost and time saving, personalizing care, multilingual support, assisting in medical research, decision-making, documentation, continuing education, and enhanced team collaboration reflecting positive impact were identified from the data analysis of seven focus groups. In addition, six themes including misdiagnosis and errors, issues in personalized care, ethical and legal issues, limited medical context/knowledge, communication challenges, and increased dependency reflecting negative impact were identified. Conclusion: Although ChatGPT has several advantages for teleconsultants in the healthcare sector, it is associated with ethical issues.

Public Perceptions Towards Online Health Information: A Mixed-Method Study in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Online health disinformation is one of the key challenges faced globally. Although there are efforts to address this issue, most of the proposed solutions were ineffective or could not address it effectively. One of the key reasons for the ineffective solutions is lack of understanding on how public deal with disinformation and the different areas that could be influenced by health disinformation. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the public perceptions towards online health information, investigate the impact of online health disinformation, and propose a framework for addressing the issue of online health disinformation. Methods: A mixed-methods approach design is used in this study which includes a cross-sectional survey design to gather data from public; and a semi-structured interviews approach with healthcare experts to analyze the impact of online health disinformation on the society. A total of 409 Saudi residents were included for survey, and 22 health informatics experts were considered for interviews. Results: The results revealed low digital literacy levels and poor critical analysis skills among the public resulting in poor management of health disinformation. Age and education can influence the users' perceptions about the use of various online health information evaluation techniques. Thematic analysis of the interviews identified impact in four areas including social, economic, technical, and legal fronts; and various strategies were identified for public, governments, and healthcare institutions for managing the online health disinformation. Conclusion: The occurrence of online health-related disinformation in Saudi Arabia is high, and there is a need to implement strict regulatory framework for managing disinformation.

AI-Powered Mental Health Virtual Assistants' Acceptance: An Empirical Study on Influencing Factors Among Generations X, Y, and Z.

STUDY PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze various influencing factors among generations X (Gen X), Y (Gen Y), and Z (Gen Z) of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mental health virtual assistants. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The study sample consisted of outpatients diagnosed with various mental health illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and behavioral disorders. A survey questionnaire was designed based on the factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and behavioural intention) identified from the unified theory of acceptance and use of the technology model. Ethical approval was received from the Ethics Committee at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: A total of 506 patients participated in the study, with over 80% having moderate to high experience in using mental health AI assistants. The ANOVA results for performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), and behavioral intentions (BI) indicate that there are statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z participants. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the significance of considering generational differences in attitudes and perceptions, with Gen Y and Gen Z demonstrating more positive attitudes and stronger intentions to use AI mental health virtual assistants, while Gen X appears to be more cautious.

Use of social media for the improvement of safety knowledge and awareness among Saudi Arabian phlebotomists.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of social media for the improvement of safety knowledge and awareness among phlebotomists. Methods: As this study was intended to arrive at specific conclusions using empirical evidence, a deductive quantitative cross-sectional online survey design was adopted. A total of 521 phlebotomists participated in the survey, and 86 incomplete responders were removed, resulting in a final sample of 435 considered in this study. T-tests and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 41.6% stated that social media was very effective, and 31.5% stated that it was somewhat effective in improving safety knowledge and awareness. in addition, this study revealed no major differences between male and female participants (p > 0.05) with respect to the effectiveness of social media. However, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) among the age groups were identified in relation to the effectiveness of social media and the intention to use it in the future. Conclusion: Social media applications are effective for knowledge dissemination among healthcare professionals.

The Impact of Social Media Applications on Donor Engagement and Retention in the Saudi Arabian Blood Donation System.

STUDY PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of social media applications on donor engagement and retention within the blood donation system in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The population aged above 18 years and living in Saudi Arabia was included in the study. Using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, an online questionnaire was distributed using social media channels such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. A total of 463 participants were included in the study. RESULTS: The majority of the study participants (78.1%) engage on social media applications multiple times a day for charity causes such as blood donation by responding to requests, while 51.8% of them engage on social media applications for the same reason a few times a month. Focusing on donor engagement, 46.8% and 27.3% of the total participants were likely to engage in the blood donation process; 60% were likely to continue to use social media applications for blood donation. The ANOVA findings showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between participant groups characterized by age and educational level on their engagement on social media applications for the blood donation process. Younger participants and participants with bachelor's degrees and above were more likely to engage in social media applications for the blood donation process compared to minimum educated and older participants (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Charity or blood donation organizations must adopt strategies to actively engage the donors on the platforms, as social media can effectively contribute to donor engagement and retention.

Adoption of Wearable Insulin Biosensors for Diabetes Management: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Wearable insulin biosensors represent a novel approach that combines the benefits of real-time glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery, potentially revolutionizing how individuals with diabetes manage their condition. STUDY PURPOSE: To analyze the behavioral intentions of wearable insulin biosensors among diabetes patients, the factors that drive or hinder their usage, and the implications for diabetes management and healthcare outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The validated questionnaire included 10 factors (Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, perceived privacy risk, and personal innovativeness) affecting the acceptance of wearable insulin sensors. A total of 248 diabetic patients who had used wearable sensors participated in the study. RESULTS: Performance expectancy was rated the highest (Mean = 3.84 out of 5), followed by effort expectancy (Mean = 3.78 out of 5), and trust (Mean = 3.53 out of 5). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed with respect to socio-demographic variables including age and gender on various influencing factors and adoption intentions. PE, EE, and trust were positively associated with adoption intentions. CONCLUSION: While wearable insulin sensors are positively perceived with respect to diabetes management, issues like privacy and security may affect their adoption.

Public Awareness of Obesity as a Risk Factor for Cancer in Central Saudi Arabia: Feasibility of ChatGPT as an Educational Intervention.

BACKGROUND: While the link between obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders is well-documented, there is a growing body of evidence connecting obesity with an increased risk of cancer. However, public awareness of this connection remains limited. STUDY PURPOSE: To analyze public awareness of overweight/obesity as a risk factor for cancer and analyze public perceptions on the feasibility of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-based conversational agent, as an educational intervention tool. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach including deductive quantitative cross-sectional approach to draw precise conclusions based on empirical evidence on public awareness of the link between obesity and cancer; and inductive qualitative approach to interpret public perceptions on using ChatGPT for creating awareness of obesity, cancer and its risk factors was used in this study. Participants included adult residents in Saudi Arabia. A total of 486 individuals and 21 individuals were included in the survey and semi-structured interviews respectively. RESULTS: About 65% of the participants are not completely aware of cancer and its risk factors. Significant differences in awareness were observed concerning age groups (p < .0001), socio-economic status (p = .041), and regional distribution (p = .0351). A total of 10 themes were analyzed from the interview data, which included four positive factors (accessibility, personalization, cost-effectiveness, anonymity and privacy, multi-language support) and five negative factors (information inaccuracy, lack of emotional intelligence, dependency and overreliance, data privacy and security, and inability to provide physical support or diagnosis). CONCLUSION: This study has underscored the potential of leveraging ChatGPT as a valuable public awareness tool for cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Artificial Intelligence and Patient Autonomy in Obesity Treatment Decisions: An Empirical Study of the Challenges.

Background This study aims to explore the factors associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and patient autonomy in obesity treatment decision-making. Methodology A cross-sectional, online, descriptive survey design was adopted in this study. The survey instrument incorporated the Ideal Patient Autonomy Scale (IPAS) and other factors affecting patient autonomy in the AI-patient relationship. The study participants included 74 physicians, 55 dieticians, and 273 obese patients. Results Different views were expressed in the scales AI knows the best (µ = 2.95-3.15) and the patient should decide (µ = 2.95-3.16). Ethical concerns (µ = 3.24) and perceived privacy risks (µ = 3.58) were identified as having a more negative influence on patient autonomy compared to personal innovativeness (µ = 2.41) and trust (µ = 2.85). Physicians and dieticians expressed significantly higher trust in AI compared to patients (p < 0.05). Conclusions Patient autonomy in the AI-patient relationship is significantly affected by privacy, trust, and ethical issues. As trust is a multifaceted factor and AI is a novel technology in healthcare, it is essential to fully explore the various factors influencing trust and patient autonomy.

Factors Affecting the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Virtual Assistants for Leukemia Self-Management.

AIM AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the various influencing factors affecting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled virtual assistants (VAs) for self-management of leukemia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The questionnaire included eight factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, perceived privacy risk, and personal innovativeness) affecting the acceptance of AI-enabled virtual assistants. A total of 397 leukemia patients participated in the online survey. RESULTS: Performance expectancy (µ = 3.14), effort expectancy (µ = 3.05), and personal innovativeness (µ = 3.14) were identified to be the major influencing factors of AI adoption. Statistically significant differences (p < .05) were observed between the gender-based and age groups of the participants in relation to the various factors. In addition, perceived privacy risks were negatively correlated with all other factors. CONCLUSION: Although there are negative factors such as privacy risks and ethical issues in AI adoption, perceived effectiveness and ease of use among individuals are leading to greater adoption of AI-enabled VAs.

Barriers and Facilitators of Artificial Intelligence in Family Medicine: An Empirical Study With Physicians in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a novel technology that has been widely acknowledged for its potential to improve the processes' efficiency across industries. However, its barriers and facilitators in healthcare are not completely understood due to its novel nature. STUDY PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the intricate landscape of AI use in family medicine, aiming to uncover the factors that either hinder or enable its successful adoption. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design is adopted in this study. The questionnaire included 10 factors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, trust, perceived privacy risk, personal innovativeness, ethical concerns, and facilitators) affecting the acceptance of AI. A total of 157 family physicians participated in the online survey. RESULTS: Effort expectancy (µ = 3.85) and facilitating conditions (µ = 3.77) were identified to be strong influence factors. Access to data (µ = 4.33), increased computing power (µ = 3.92), and telemedicine (µ = 3.78) were identified as major facilitators; regulatory support (µ = 2.29) and interoperability standards (µ = 2.71) were identified as barriers along with privacy and ethical concerns. Younger individuals tend to have more positive attitudes and expectations toward AI-enabled assistants compared to older participants (p < .05). Perceived privacy risk is negatively correlated with all factors. CONCLUSION: Although there are various barriers and concerns regarding the use of AI in healthcare, the preference for AI use in healthcare, especially family medicine, is increasing.

Surveying Hematologists' Perceptions and Readiness to Embrace Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis and Treatment Decision-Making.

AIM: This study aims to explore the critical dimension of assessing the perceptions and readiness of hematologists to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in their diagnostic and treatment decision-making processes. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design for collecting data related to the perceptions and readiness of hematologists using a validated online questionnaire-based survey. Both hematologists (MD) and postgraduate MD students in hematology were included in the study. A total of 188 participants, including 35 hematologists (MD) and 153 MD hematology students, completed the survey. RESULTS: Major challenges include "AI's level of autonomy" and "the complexity in the field of medicine." Major barriers and risks identified include "lack of trust," "management's level of understanding," "dehumanization of healthcare," and "reduction in physicians' skills." Statistically significant differences in perceptions of benefits including resources (p=0.0326, p<0.05) and knowledge (p=0.0262, p<0.05) were observed between genders. Older physicians were observed to be more concerned about the use of AI compared to younger physicians (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: While AI use in hematology diagnosis and treatment decision-making is positively perceived, issues such as lack of trust, transparency, regulations, and poor AI awareness can affect the adoption of AI.

The opportunities and challenges of adopting ChatGPT in medical research.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the opportunities and challenges of adopting ChatGPT in medical research. Methods: A qualitative approach with focus groups is adopted in this study. A total of 62 participants including academic researchers from different streams in medicine and eHealth, participated in this study. Results: A total of five themes with 16 sub-themes related to the opportunities; and a total of five themes with 12 sub-themes related to the challenges were identified. The major opportunities include improved data collection and analysis, improved communication and accessibility, and support for researchers in multiple streams of medical research. The major challenges identified were limitations of training data leading to bias, ethical issues, technical limitations, and limitations in data collection and analysis. Conclusion: Although ChatGPT can be used as a potential tool in medical research, there is a need for further evidence to generalize its impact on the different research activities.

Using mobile health applications to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on users' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: This research aims to assess the users' perceptions of usability and quality of mobile health applications used for promoting physical activity in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. A survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and distributed among the Saudi population through social media to assess the users' perceptions of using mobile applications to enhance physical activity. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions in six sections, including demographics (nine items), perceived usefulness (three items), perceived ease of use (three items), attitudes (three items), user experience (six items) and subjective quality (three items). All the participants were in Saudi Arabia and >15 y of age. RESULTS: A total of 195 m-Health users participated in the survey. Of the total participants, 25.1% were overweight and 21.0% were obese. The workout frequency of most users was rarely (32.3%) and three to four times a week (29.2%). In addition, 55.9% of the users agreed that the application they use served all fitness levels and >80% either agreed or strongly agreed that it was easy for them to learn how to use the application. More than 70% of users agreed or strongly agreed that the application enhanced their knowledge of workouts and physical activity and >90% would recommend the application to others. There were no differences identified between the male and female participants and younger (<40 y) and older (>40 y) participants with respect to perceived usefulness and ease of use, attitudes, experiences and subjective quality. However, significant differences were observed between participants <40 y and >40 y of age in terms of perceived ease of use of mHealth applications. CONCLUSION: mHealth users across Saudi Arabia believe that the mHealth applications have good usability and quality factors. As a result, they can motivate people and help them achieve their goals in relation to physical activities.

Do Health Care Providers Pay Attention to Sharing Hospital Patient Safety Incidents Through Social Media in Saudi Arabia?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to find out if health care providers in Saudi Arabia used social media to share the safety incidents that occurred in hospitals. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: To carry out this study, we conducted a survey using a valid and reliable questionnaire that was distributed through WhatsApp groups by means of a link to a sample of 450 health care providers in Saudi Arabia. The response rate was 33.55%, and 151 respondents answered the questionnaire. The survey was carried out in January 2019. The data were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics. RESULTS: More than half of the respondents (54%) were female, and 68% of them were younger than 40 years. Also, 42% of the participants had a bachelor's degree, and 57% were working in the health care quality field. The participants used the following social media: WhatsApp (21%), Twitter (17%), YouTube (15%), Snapchat (13%), LinkedIn (12%), and Instagram (12%). They used these networks for education and professional development (24%), networking (23%), self-promotion (16%), employment (15%), sharing incidents that affect patient safety (11%), and health promotion (11%). Besides, 60% of the participants reported safety incidents that occurred in hospitals, and 72% of them did not agree to share these incidences through social media. In addition, 82% of participants thought that social networks were beneficial to obtain knowledge about quality of patient care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this research showed that most health care providers in Saudi Arabia considered that safety incidents that occur in hospitals should not be shared through social media because they affect the policies and privacy of hospitals, patients, and personnel. However, most of the respondents believed that social media could contribute to improving the quality of patient attention and thought that WhatsApp and Twitter could be the most useful social media for these purposes.