Abstract
Background Health education, primarily through printed materials, is crucial for promoting preventive healthcare. It is essential to understand patients' preferences and ensure patient engagement in healthcare decisions. Health literacy challenges persist, and web-based platforms are expanding access. Tailoring materials to target populations, considering content, layout, and cultural appropriateness, maximizes effectiveness. This study aimed to determine the preferred health education resources for patients visiting King Saud Medical City, Riyadh. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, targeting adults in outpatient and staff clinic waiting areas. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0 (Released 2023; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The study included 210 participants and revealed key preferences in health education. Notably, 57.6% preferred social media platforms, while 49.1% favored a doctor as their primary source. Participants prioritized pictures/photos (27.8%) and labels (56.2%) for printed materials. Most participants (91.4%) chose formats based on the comprehensive content provided. Participants sought general health guidance (26%) and preferences were significantly associated with education levels (p=0.010) and different sources (p<0.001). Additionally, students showed a significant association with receiving health education (p=0.046). Conclusion The current study revealed diverse preferences for health education resources among patients at King Saud Medical City. The most favored method was social media platforms (57.6%, n=121), with participants ranking it as their first preference. Understanding these preferences is crucial for tailored and effective health education strategies.