Table 1.
Demographic data of the participants (N=43).
| Characteristics | Participants, n (%) | |
| Gender | ||
|
|
Male | 7 (16.3) |
|
|
Female | 36 (83.7) |
| Age (years) | ||
|
|
30-35 | 30 (69.8) |
|
|
35-40 | 13 (30.2) |
| Years of experience (years) | ||
|
|
5-10 | 4 (9.3) |
|
|
>10 | 39 (90.7) |
| Certification | ||
|
|
MSc | 9 (20.9) |
|
|
BSc with a high diploma | 5 (11.6) |
|
|
BSc | 29 (67.4) |
| Number of smartphones useda | ||
|
|
1 | 27 (62.8) |
|
|
2 | 15 (34.9) |
|
|
3 | 1 (2.3) |
| Number of social media apps currently in use | ||
|
|
<3 | 15 (34.9) |
|
|
4-6 | 22 (51.2) |
|
|
>6 | 6 (14) |
| Average cost per month for smartphones used for communication with patients and health care providers communication (Omani Rial; 1 Omani Rial=US $2.6) | ||
|
|
0 | 5 (11.6) |
|
|
2-10 | 19 (55.9) |
|
|
11-20 | 14 (32.6) |
|
|
21-40 | 5 (11.6) |
| Average hours per day of social media use in responding to patients and health care professionalsa | ||
|
|
1-2 | 18 (41.9) |
|
|
3-4 | 15 (34.9) |
|
|
5-6 | 9 (20.9) |
|
|
>7 | 1 (2.3) |
| Using smartphones for hospital issues | ||
|
|
Only during working hours | 11 (25.6) |
|
|
During work hours and at home | 5 (11.6) |
|
|
During work hours, at home, and during leave time | 27 (62.8) |
| Do you prefer health-related social media articles? | ||
|
|
Never | 1 (2.3) |
|
|
Rarely | 0 (0) |
|
|
Sometimes | 21 (48.8) |
|
|
Often | 18 (41.9) |
|
|
Always | 3 (7) |
| How much do you believe in news on social media? | ||
|
|
100% | 0 (0) |
|
|
80%-90% | 11 (25.6) |
|
|
50%-70% | 15 (34.9) |
|
|
<50% | 17 (39.5) |
| How do you feel when you cannot use social media? | ||
|
|
Relieved | 18 (41.9) |
|
|
Unable to leave the phone | 3 (7) |
|
|
Afraid that you will miss important news | 22 (51.2) |
| Have you ever experienced any physical discomfort as a result of using social media?b | ||
|
|
Yes | 34 (79.1) |
|
|
No | 9 (20.9) |
| Have you ever experienced any psychological discomfort as a result of using social media?b | ||
|
|
Yes | 21 (48.8) |
|
|
No | 22 (51.2) |
| Have you ever been humiliated or criticized by social media? | ||
|
|
Yes | 8 (18.6) |
|
|
No | 35 (81.4) |
| Have you ever sued (by law) any patient, doctor, or any health care professional due to social media humiliation or assaults? | ||
|
|
Yes | 0 (0) |
|
|
No | 43 (100) |
aNo significant difference in the number of mobile phones used and the number of hours spent on using social media (P=.46).
bSignificant correlation in the number of clinical nurse specialists who reported physical and psychological discomfort and the number of hours spent in using social media apps (P=.003).