Using Social Media Platforms to Share Health Information from the Perspectives of Physical Therapists in Kuwait

Authors

  • Maryam Aldhafeeri Ministry of Health, Kuwait

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62464/ijoprp.v3i6.29

Keywords:

Social Media, Physical Therapists, Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Intention.

Abstract

Background: In recent times, health professionals have used their personal or professional social media (SM) accounts to disseminate health information through SM platforms. This study explores the factors influencing physical therapists' (PTs) intentions to share health-related information on social media (SM) platforms in Kuwait, addressing a significant gap in the literature. Methods: The study utilizes the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework to examine the impact of performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FCs) on PTs' intentions. A survey was conducted with PTs, and data were analyzed using linear regression to identify significant predictors of intention. One-way ANOVA was also used to examine the effects of demographic factors. Results: The results indicate that FCs, EE, and PE significantly predict PTs' intentions to share health information on SM, accounting for 47% of the variance in intentions. Specifically, FCs had the highest impact (β = .347, p = .002), followed by EE (β = .284, p = .003) and PE (β = .193, p = .048). SI did not significantly influence PTs' intentions (β = .054, p = .581). Demographic factors such as age and years of work experience did not significantly affect intentions. Conclusion: This research provides valuable insights into the factors driving PTs' intentions to share health information on SM. Future research should explore additional variables such as trust, attitudes, and financial incentives, and extend the model to other SM platforms and larger, more diverse populations. Understanding these factors can help in developing strategies to enhance the use of SM for public health communication.

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Published

2024-06-30

How to Cite

Aldhafeeri, M. (2024). Using Social Media Platforms to Share Health Information from the Perspectives of Physical Therapists in Kuwait. International Journal of Physical Therapy Research &Amp; Practice, 3(6), 280–293. https://doi.org/10.62464/ijoprp.v3i6.29

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