Sources of health information used by Qatari adolescents.

Abstract

In Qatar, health media campaigns and applications (apps) have not been particularly successful among adolescents. Arab culture suggests personal communication as a promising alternative. This study aimed to assess the importance of personal communication for health information among Qatari adolescents compared with other sources. A secondary analysis of a representative sample of 1117 Qatari adolescents was done in 2017 of their sources of health information. Data were analysed according to age group and sex. Personal communication was the most important source of health information (particularly parents and friends), together with a few selected Internet platforms for both sexes and age groups. Significantly more females used parents and Instagram as a source of health information than males (P ≤ 0.01). Males used traditional media channels, online forums and Facebook significantly more often than females (all P < 0.001). Siblings, doctors/nurses, Twitter and Wikipedia were significantly more important for older adolescents (P < 0.05). Younger respondents relied on YouTube and health classes significantly more than older adolescents (P < 0.05). Providers of health information for adolescents should take advantage of personal communication and pay attention to which Internet channels are used. Parents and friends are particularly important sources of health information.