Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the institutional review board of the Medical University of Silesia (Katowice, Poland), and adherence to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki was ensured. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all participants before inclusion in the study. No personal data of the participants were collected, ensuring the anonymity and confidentiality of their responses. The questionnaire did not include any identifying information, and the article does not contain any individual participant information.

The study used a mixed methods approach, combining a questionnaire and an observational component. The target population was composed of doctors working in two hospitals in Katowice, Poland, where agreements were signed regarding the use of the donor reporting application. All doctors in these hospitals received invitations to participate in the study. Data collection occurred from December 2022 to June 2023, with approval obtained from both hospital directors. Doctors from the following departments ultimately took part in the study, because these departments have reported deaths and potential donors and used the application: cardiology, cardiac intensive care unit, neurology, anesthesiology and intensive care, and anesthesiology and intensive care with cardiology monitoring. The department heads from each aforementioned unit were provided with log-in credentials within the application and subsequently received a demonstration of its functionality. Paper-based surveys assessing the application’s performance were then distributed within the respective departments, additionally supplemented by an electronic version sent directly to their designated email addresses. The approximate number of doctors working in these departments is 120.

A self-administered questionnaire evaluated the usability of the application (including the user interface, navigation, etc), design aesthetics and functionality, implementation feasibility within hospital workflows, and its potential impact on future donor reporting rates. The questionnaire did not rely on a specific technology acceptance framework; rather, it included a combination of closed-ended (Likert scale–rated, yes/no) and open-ended questions. The questionnaire contained 26 questions and is shown in Multimedia Appendix 1.

Data from the questionnaires were then collected and analyzed, with results presented as the number and percentage of people providing a particular response for qualitative variables, and the mean and SD for quantitative variables. The number of potential and final tissue donors was determined in the application from the tissue bank employee panel, to which notifications from the application were sent.

Several of our findings shed light on the performance and reception of the application. First, it is noteworthy that the application has proven successful, having reported 24 real cornea donors. This indicates a practical and tangible impact on the intended purpose of the application. Feedback from the participants is largely positive, with the majority expressing an inclination to use the application in the future. Ease of use is highlighted as a strong point, with a significant proportion of participants stating that they would not need technical support to navigate the application. The automatic notification feature and integration of necessary documents for donor qualification and tissue collection emerged as the most valuable functions of the application, as indicated by the respondents. This suggests that the application effectively streamlines and simplifies critical processes related to tissue donation. A vast majority of users expressed their willingness to use the application on their workplace computers, and there is a consensus that the application could encourage doctors to report tissue donors. However, the study also highlights areas for improvement. Interviewed users underscore the importance of seamless integration with hospital systems, suggesting that further efforts may be needed to enhance interoperability. Moreover, the application’s graphic design requires an upgrade, as it was the lowest-rated feature.

It is important to note that tissue donor procurement is faced with several challenges such as the lack of awareness and understanding among the general public regarding donation or underfinancing of eye banks [10-13].⁠ Many people are unaware of the tremendous impact tissue donation can have on others. This lack of awareness often leads to difficulties with talking to the family of a potential donor [14-18]. Public awareness campaigns serve as a cornerstone in increasing corneal donor procurement [19]. Additionally, the procurement process itself can be complex and confusing for doctors. These can delay the retrieval and transplantation of tissues, negatively impacting patient outcomes [20].⁠ This application optimized the recognition of tissue donors, as it specifies all eligibility criteria. It overcomes obstacles such as not knowing how to report a donor, which is an established factor contributing to inefficient recognition of tissue donors [10,21-23]. Positive feedback about the application is even more important because it has been proven that that users’ willingness to use it is influenced by their perceptions of both the application’s ease of use and its perceived usefulness [24]. Insights from participants can shape the future development of applications, particularly helping identify crucial elements for optimal design [25].

Donor reporting applications can collect and analyze data regarding donors’ demographics, registration trends, and geographical distribution. These insights can help organ procurement organizations and health care organizations identify areas with low donor registration rates, enabling targeted awareness campaigns to increase participation [26].

Although the application appears to be a promising tool for increasing the reporting of potential donors, it is essential to acknowledge certain limitations that may impact the interpretation of our findings. The study focused on doctors from 2 specific hospitals, potentially limiting the diversity of perspectives and experiences. Therefore, our findings may not be fully representative of the broader medical community. Furthermore, the use of a questionnaire for data collection introduces the possibility of response bias. Participants who chose to participate in the study may have unique characteristics or motivations that differ from those of nonparticipants. Finally, the data collection period, from December 2022 to June 2023, may not capture potential changes in user perceptions and experiences over an extended period.

The study demonstrates a positive response to the donor reporting application, with promising implications for increasing cornea donations. The findings provide valuable insights into user preferences and highlight areas for refinement, ensuring the continued success and effectiveness of the application in the context of eye tissue donation. The developed program is a valuable tool that can significantly support the process of reporting potential tissue donors. It is worth noting that the effectiveness of the application has been confirmed by reports from actual cornea donors and positive user reviews.