Social Media Use and Health Literacy Among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Health literacy (HL) plays a critical role in managing chronic conditions, as it empowers patients with MS to effectively access, understand, and apply health information to improve their well-being. With the rising prevalence of MS in Saudi Arabia, understanding the role of social media in health communication and its relationship with the health literacy of patients with MS is essential.Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the health literacy levels among patients with MS in Saudi Arabia and investigate association between social media use and level of health literacy.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 adult patients with MS in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. Health literacy was measured using the HLS-Q12 scale. Social media use for health purposes was assessed though 7 questions adapted from a prior chronic disease health literacy study, covering usage patterns, information sources, perceived usefulness, and misinformation-verification behaviors.Results: The mean age of participants was 39.8 years, with a majority of females (69.1%) and participants residing in the Makkah region (68.2%). The mean health literacy score was 34.5 ± 5.5. Overall, 51.8% of participants demonstrated intermediate health literacy, while 16.4% were classified as advanced, 25.5% as marginal, and 6.4% as below marginal. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher health literacy was significantly associated with increased confidence in distinguishing reliable health information from misinformation (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.20, p = .031). No statistically significant associations were found between health literacy and gender, social media dependency, perceived usefulness of social media, or daily social media usage duration.Conclusion: Patients with MS in Saudi Arabia demonstrated moderate health literacy. Higher health literacy was associated with greater confidence in identifying reliable health information, whereas social media use was not significantly associated with health literacy levels. Efforts to enhance health literacy may help patients with MS better evaluate online health information and better manage their condition.