JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in panic among the general public, leading to many people seeking out information related to COVID-19 through various sources, including social media and traditional media. Identifying public preferences for obtaining such information may help health authorities to effectively plan successful health preventive and education intervention strategies.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the types of sources used for obtaining COVID-19 information among the general public in Saudi Arabia on their attitudes and practices toward the pandemic, and to identify the socioeconomic factors associated with the use of various information sources.

Methods:

This study used data from a cross-sectional online survey conducted on residents of Saudi Arabia from March 20 to March 24, 2020. Data were evaluated using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Bivariate analysis of categorical variables was performed to determine the associations between information sources and independent variables. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to examine whether demographic variables and optimistic attitudes or positive practices were associated with the type of source used to obtain information on COVID-19.

Results:

Most of the study participants reported using social media, followed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) as their primary sources of information. An increase in practice score was significantly associated with lower odds of seeking information via social media (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.812, 95% CI 0.748-0.882; P<.001) compared with other information sources. Increased practice scores were significantly associated with higher odds of seeking information via the MOH (aOR 1.234, 95% CI 1.127-1.350; P<.001). Moreover, an increased attitude score was significantly associated with higher odds of seeking information from the MOH (aOR 1.032, 95% CI 1.003-1.060; P=.027) than other information sources. In contrast, an increase in the attitude score was significantly associated with lower odds of seeking information via television and newspapers compared with other sources (aOR 0.963, 95% CI 0.931-0.995; P=.028).

Conclusions:

This study provides evidence that different communication channels influence attitudes and preventive actions differently during a pandemic crisis context. Health authorities in Saudi Arabia should pay attention to the use of appropriate social media channels and sources to allow for more effective dissemination of critical information to the public.