Assessing the Knowledge of Kawasaki Disease among Undergraduate Medical Students at King Abdulaziz University

Abstract Introduction: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a condition that leads to serious complications. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing long-term sequelae. This study assesses medical students’ knowledge of KD, identifying gaps and educational needs. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students. Data were collected via Google Sheets, which assessed students’ knowledge of KD, its complications, and sources of information. The data were cleaned in Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS 29.0.0. Results: We included 122 participants, mostly females ( n = 77, 63.1%) and under 25 years ( n = 92, 75.4%). All completed their assigned pediatric rotation, with 68 (55.7%) interns. Most ( n = 110, 90.2%) relied on the medical school’s curriculum for their knowledge. Satisfaction with knowledge showed a significant gender difference ( P = 0.048), with males reporting higher satisfaction. Knowledge levels significantly differed between variable sources of information ( P = 0.018), with curriculum-dependent students having higher knowledge (52.7%). Conclusion: Our study shows that undergraduate medical students’ overall knowledge of KD is satisfactory, yet certain misconceptions and gaps still need to be addressed. University curriculum is key to students’ understanding of KD. Gender differences in satisfaction were noted, and non-curriculum sources were associated with lower knowledge levels, emphasizing the importance of structured education and the possible significance of different approaches to providing knowledge to medical students.