Beyond awareness: social media, artificial intelligence, and the PCOS knowledge gap among women in Palestine.

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) requires sustained health literacy, yet the degree to which digital exposure translates into accurate understanding remains uncertain in Palestine. This study evaluated PCOS awareness, objective knowledge, social media influence, and artificial intelligence (AI) use among Palestinian women.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 981 Palestinian women aged 18 years or older between January and February 2026 using convenience and snowball recruitment through digital platforms. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported physician-diagnosed PCOS, information sources, awareness, factual knowledge, social media influence, credibility behavior, and use of ChatGPT or similar generative conversational AI tools for PCOS-related information. Descriptive, bivariate, correlation, and multivariable models were applied. Because recruitment was online and non-probability based, findings should be interpreted as reflecting respondents in this sample rather than population-level estimates for all Palestinian women.

RESULTS

Participants had high awareness (mean 38.5 ± 7.6 of 50), with 64.8% categorized as highly aware, but objective knowledge was moderate (mean 10.9 ± 2.3 of 20), with only 3.2% achieving good knowledge. Social media was the most common information source (37.2%) and correlated positively with awareness (r = 0.35) and knowledge (r = 0.23), both p < 0.001. AI use was reported by 56.6% and was associated with higher unadjusted awareness and knowledge; however, it was not an independent predictor after adjustment. Medical or health related background, physician diagnosed PCOS, and social media influence independently predicted awareness and knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Among respondents in this online Palestinian sample, PCOS recognition was broad, but actionable objective knowledge remained incomplete. Social media exposure and AI use were common; however, AI use was not independently associated with awareness or knowledge after adjustment, suggesting that it may reflect broader digital information-seeking rather than independently improving PCOS literacy. Structured, clinician-supported, and culturally responsive digital health literacy programs are needed to address misconceptions and support safer appraisal of online and AI-generated PCOS information.