Social media and technology preferences among colorectal cancer patients

Background: Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs impact participant engagement in genetics and genomics research. However, there is still room to better understand how information is disseminated within the community. The widespread use of smartphones has made health information more accessible, but understanding the devices and platforms used, as well as usage frequency is essential for effective health education. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 57 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients aged 18+ recruited at two Los Angeles area hospitals. The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding cancer genetics/ genomic testing, as well as social media and technological device usage and preferences. Recruitment and survey administration were based on each participant's preferred language. Results : The average age of participants was 53.96 years (SD = 10.38). Most, 66.7%, reported using social media at varying frequencies, while 33.3% reported never using social media. ​ Among daily social media users, Facebook was the most popular platform (48.7%), followed by WhatsApp (36.8%), TikTok (35.1%), and Instagram (24.3%). ​ Regarding access to technology, all participants reported owning a smartphone, while only 26% had access to a tablet and 22% had access to a laptop or desktop. ​ Notably, 64% of participants reported needing assistance to access Zoom.​ The majority (63%) of participants were male, and 64.9% reported an annual household income of less than $25,000. Conclusion: These findings indicate that smartphones are the primary device utilized by study participants to access online educational materials and videos. Social media platforms could be effective to disseminate health education materials (as 66.7% used it). However, relying solely on this would exclude the one in three participants who reported not using social media at all. While Zoom offers an alternative to overcome transportation and accessibility barriers, 64% of participants require assistance to use it, highlighting the need for dedicated support from research staff. Future research should explore how patients seek information through social media to develop effective health education materials.