Use Patterns and Challenges of the Social Media Platform X Among Physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Social media platforms have become salient channels for health care professionals' continuous education and professional development. Among them, X (formerly known as Twitter) is used by physiotherapists for engaging in evidence-based discussions and accessing emerging research. In Saudi Arabia, a country with a high social media penetration rate, the platform offers unique opportunities and challenges for physiotherapy-related knowledge acquisition and networking. Objective: This study aimed to determine how physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia engage in physiotherapy-related debates on X, explore their use patterns, and identify associated challenges and perceived professional benefits. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among licensed physiotherapists registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. The questionnaire covered demographic data, social media use, interaction patterns, perceived challenges, and motivations for use. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to examine demographic data, use patterns, challenges and concerns, perceived professional benefits, and the association between demographic characteristics and use patterns. Statistical significance was set at P<.05. Results: Of 193 responses, 188 (97.4%) were valid and included in the data analysis. Among the respondents, 76.1% (143/188) reported having an active account on X. Most respondents were female (109/188, 58.0%) and aged 31 to 40 years (79/188, 42.0%). The time spent on the platform varied, with 32.9% (47/143) spending 4 to 6 hours a week and 27.3% (39/143) spending less than an hour per week. Respondents' interaction extent was moderate, with 35.7% (51/143) reporting occasional interaction. The respondents mainly interacted with knowledge-sharing posts (102/143, 71.3%), followed by training- or workshop-related posts (94/143, 65.7%). The respondents reported difficulty in finding reliable information (75/143, 52.4%), time constraints (58/143, 40.6%), communication barriers (69/143, 48.3%), and conflicts of interest (74/143, 51.7%) as challenges concerning engaging in physiotherapy-related debates on X. Despite these concerns, many respondents acknowledged the platform's value as 60.1% (86/143) agreed that it helped them stay updated with emerging research, 68.5% (98/143) believed that it fostered knowledge sharing, and 67.8% (97/143) believed that it enhanced critical thinking among the community. Conclusions: Physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia demonstrated active engagement with physiotherapy-related content on X for professional development. While the platform offers valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration, notable barriers such as information credibility and time limitations must be addressed. Enhancing digital literacy and establishing clear guidelines for professional social media use may help maximize the platform's potential as a tool for continuous development in physiotherapy practice.