Abstract

Background: Voluntary blood donation is an essential part of healthcare systems, yet participation in many regions, including Makkah, remains suboptimal. Despite its importance for managing trauma, surgeries, hematologic disorders, and chronic diseases, donation behaviors are influenced by public awareness, attitudes, and perceived barriers. With artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a promising tool in health education and service delivery, there is a growing interest in its potential to improve donor engagement. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to voluntary blood donation and to evaluate public perceptions of AI-based applications in enhancing donation awareness and participation.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 1,847 residents of the Makkah region using a bilingual, self-administered online questionnaire. The survey included five sections: demographics, knowledge of blood donation, attitudes and practices, and engagement with AI tools. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling across social media platforms and institutional channels. Composite scores were computed for knowledge, perceived importance of donation, and AI acceptability. Associations between variables were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression models, with p-values

Key words: blood donation, Makkah, knowledge, Artificial Intelligence, technology.