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This study aims to examine the eHealth literacy level among online health consumers (OHC) in Jordan and identified variables predicting their eHealth literacy level as well.

A quantitative study was conducted to achieve the study objectives. A purposeful sample of 262 OHC completed an electronic version of the eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS). eHEALS is the most cited scale in the literature, which includes eight items (measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree).

Results showed that OHC in Jordan had a moderate level of overall eHealth literacy. Specifically, the eHEALS formed two conceptually sound factors. Gender, occupation, perceived usefulness and perceived importance of the internet, and more frequent online health information seeking were significant positive predictors of overall eHealth literacy and/or its two identified dimensions.

This study represents a humble contribution to the field. Several recommendations were suggested to maintain and improve eHealth literacy among OHC in Jordan.

The internet has changed the landscape of health information. There is an increase in the provision and availability of health information to all users. OHC should be skillful in locating, using and evaluating online health information. Although many researchers have increasingly studied the concept of eHealth literacy among various groups in the past decade, little research has been devoted to focus on eHealth literacy among OHC, particularly in Jordan.

The purpose of this study is to explore the use and continued intention to use six social media applications (SMAs) (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Skype and Instagram) by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kuwait.

A survey of 357 SMEs in Kuwait was conducted to achieve the study objectives.

The study results showed that SMEs mostly used application was Facebook (by more than three quarters of the SMEs), and the least used one was LinkedIn (by around 6 per cent of the SMEs). Also, approximately third of the SMEs used YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. Of those, more than one third used these applications daily. The study also found that both gaining popularity and enjoyment were the main motivations for using all six applications by SMEs. Moreover, the study found that the applications were mostly used for information, communication and marketing.

SMEs used and have continued intention to use SMAs for their enjoyment and usefulness, because other SMEs use them and because of their complementarity. In light of the results, several recommendations were suggested to increase the use and continued intention to use SMAs by SMEs in Kuwait. For academics, it may give them an idea of the extent to which SMEs use SMAs in doing work activities, which they can use as a starting point to investigate other factors that might influence the use SMAs by SMEs.

For practitioners especially SMEs owners and managers, it may help to encourage them to use the SMAs and to raise their awareness of the benefits of these applications to their work.

The findings generally suggest that SMEs need ongoing support from the government, industry or any bodies that are interested in the development of SMEs. This support includes providing a more comprehensive view about SMAs such as raising the awareness of SMEs about the potential benefits of some of these applications such as YouTube, Skype and LinkedIn and conducting training courses that help SMEs to set up rules, procedures and strategies on how to use these various applications.

SMAs have a number of characteristics that make it a suitable option for doing SMEs’ work activities. Therefore, SMAs could provide SMEs with opportunities for interaction and communication with customers and suppliers. Although the literature describes the different aspects of these applications and their potential benefits for people in general and industry in particular, little research has attempted to explore the actual use of these applications especially by SMEs in developing countries in general and in Kuwait in particular.