# Knowledge and perceptions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among medical students at King Saud University: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study explores how well medical students at King Saud University understand the Sustainable Development Goals and how they perceive their role in achieving them.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into SDG awareness among Saudi medical students and suggests integrating SDG education into medical curricula.

## Key findings

- 54.6% of students demonstrated good knowledge of the SDGs.
- 64.9% of students had positive perceptions of the SDGs.
- Knowledge levels increased with advancing academic year.

## Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global agenda to promote social, economic, and environmental development by 2030. Medical students, as future healthcare providers, have a critical role in advancing these goals, particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. This study assessed knowledge and perceptions of SDGs among medical students at King Saud University in the context of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2024 and April 2025, targeting undergraduate medical students across all academic years. Stratified random sampling was employed, and data were collected using a validated online questionnaire that assessed demographics, knowledge, and perception. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression [SPSS version 29.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA)], with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

A total of 425 students participated (55.5% male; median age 21). Good knowledge of the SDGs was demonstrated by 54.6% of participants, while 64.9% showed positive perceptions. Knowledge levels improved with advancing academic year. Female students showed significantly more favorable perceptions of the SDGs. While younger students ( ≤ 21 years) initially appeared more favorable in unadjusted analysis, this association was not independently significant after adjustment.

While overall awareness of the SDGs among medical students was acceptable, gaps in detailed knowledge remain. Early and structured integration of SDG-related content into the medical curriculum is recommended to foster deeper understanding and engagement, thereby preparing future physicians to contribute more effectively to sustainable development efforts.