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 <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: While 74.2% of participants were aware of voluntary donation, only 47.4% knew the correct legal donation age, and just 12.6% identified the correct maximum annual frequency. Approximately 38% of respondents had donated blood, with donation behavior positively associated with knowledge score and AI acceptability. The majority of respondents expressed willingness to use AI apps for finding donation centers, educational content, and reminders. Barriers included lack of time, fear of needles, and limited awareness. Male gender, higher income, and prior donation history were strong predictors of both knowledge and donation status.
Conclusion: This study shows public openness to AI in overcoming blood donation barriers and enhancing outreach efforts. Integrating behavioral insights with technology reveals opportunities for AI-driven personalized interventions. Knowledgeable, tech-accepting individuals are more likely to donate, indicating that data platforms can increase engagement. These insights assist blood services, policymakers, and developers in creating AI solutions for a sustainable blood supply in Saudi Arabia and worldwide settings.

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