Malays J Med Sci. 2021;28(3):118–128 www.mjms.usm.my © Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021 This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 118 To cite this article: Siti Zuhaida H, Chung HC, Mohd Said F, Tumingan K, Sahar Shah N, Abu Bakar SH. The best online tools based on media preference refected by health information received on social media amongst diabetic patients in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malays J Med Sci. 2021;28(3):118–128. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2021.28.3.11 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2021.28.3.11 Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a major public health problem globally. Social media could be useful in assisting clinical practice and sharing health-related information to improve self-management and to promote a positive behavioural change. This study aims to develop a guide on the best online tools by determining the media preference refected by health- related information received from social media amongst diabetic patients in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Methods: This study was conducted cross-sectional on 174 respondents, who were selected by using a simple random sampling method. Socio-demographic data and the use of the internet and media for health-related information were obtained via questionnaires. Results: The most preferred social media used for searching and sharing health-related information was WhatsApp (73.6%), followed by Facebook (67.8%), Instagram (18.4%) and Twitter (17.2%). The social media preference related to socio-demographic data of age was statistically signifcant (P < 0.002), which had a medium efect. Furthermore, the media preference was not signifcantly related to health-related information searched or shared on social media and the frequency of usage. Conclusion: Indeed, the social media have been an essential media platform to enhance public awareness concerning public health. This calls for evolution to further enhance the use of social media amongst healthcare practitioners to emphasise health promotion and empower the patients to play an active role in their healthcare. This study provides a guideline for the medical researchers, practitioners or healthcare providers in choosing WhatsApp as an online medium to communicate with diabetic patients in the future, specifcally in Malaysia. Keywords: media preference, diabetes, social media, Twitter, online search, health information The Best Online Tools Based on Media Preference Reflected by Health Information Received on Social Media amongst Diabetic Patients in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia SITI ZUHAIDA Hussein, CHUNG Hong Chuo, Fawwaz MOHD SAID, Khairunnisa TUMINGAN, Nurshalin SAHAR SHAH, Suraya Hanim ABU BAKAR Nursing Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Submitted: 4 Nov 2020 Accepted: 25 Jan 2021 Online: 30 Jun 2021 Original Article