Saudi Physiotherapists Embrace X (Formerly Twitter) for Professional Development: A National Survey
A recent cross-sectional survey conducted between April and July 2024 reveals that Saudi Arabian physiotherapists are increasingly utilizing the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) as a valuable tool for professional growth and knowledge acquisition. The study, adhering to stringent international reporting guidelines, including Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys, offers a timely snapshot of the evolving landscape of professional development within the Saudi physiotherapy community. The research highlights the platform’s potential to foster critical thinking and facilitate engagement in professional debates, contributing to a more dynamic and informed healthcare sector.
The survey, designed to capture a representative sample of the estimated 8,500 to 9,000 registered physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia, reached 171 participants, meeting the calculated sample size requirements for a 5% margin of error and a 90% confidence interval. Recruitment was facilitated through convenience sampling via professional physiotherapy groups on popular social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and X itself. This targeted approach ensured the inclusion of active, licensed practitioners registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), the regulatory body for healthcare professionals in the Kingdom.
The study utilized a meticulously crafted 31-item questionnaire, developed after an extensive review of relevant literature and refined through expert feedback and pilot testing. This comprehensive instrument explored various aspects of social media engagement, focusing on platform X usage, participation in online debates, perceived professional impact, and potential barriers to participation. The questionnaire, validated by three expert academic physiotherapists, demonstrated strong reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.851, ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the collected data.
The survey was administered as a closed survey via SurveyMonkey, accessible exclusively through invitation links shared within designated physiotherapy groups. This controlled access method, combined with SurveyMonkey’s built-in tracking features, effectively prevented duplicate responses and maintained respondent anonymity, upholding the ethical principles of the study. Data security was prioritized, with all responses anonymized and stored securely for research purposes only. No personally identifiable information was collected, ensuring participant confidentiality.
The study employed a robust analytical framework, utilizing descriptive statistics to summarize the data and SPSS (Version 28) for advanced statistical analysis. Missing data, affecting a small proportion of participants (10 individuals), were handled using mean or median imputation, ensuring data integrity and comprehensive analysis. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and analysis of variance were employed to explore associations between demographic factors and perceived professional impact, providing valuable insights into the relationship between individual characteristics and the perceived benefits of online engagement.
The research design incorporated specific exclusion criteria to maintain the study’s focus and ensure the relevance of the findings. Participants lacking an active X account were excluded from sections related to platform-specific debates but remained included in the broader analysis of general social media usage patterns, which forms part of a separate, wider study. Similarly, individuals not registered with the SCFHS or those declining informed consent were excluded to ensure adherence to eligibility criteria and ethical research practices. This rigorous methodology reflects the study’s commitment to data integrity and ethical conduct. The research received ethical approval from the King Saud Medical City Institutional Review Board (No. H-01-R-053), further underscoring its commitment to ethical research standards. The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the evolving role of social media in professional development for Saudi physiotherapists, paving the way for future research and informed policy decisions. The research team anticipates that the study’s results will inform strategies for enhancing professional development opportunities within the Saudi physiotherapy community, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.