Objectives: To determine prevalence, addiction knowledge and attitude on tobacco smoking in a group of smoking physicians (MF) and to compare these variables with smoking non-physicians (FNM) and non-smoking physicians (MNF) from the National Institutes of Health in Mexico (Insalud).
Material and methods: The results of a questionnaire among the three groups were compared.
Results: The prevalence of MF (22%) was significantly lower than in FNM (28%), (OR = 0.72, CI = 0.61-0.85). No significant differences regarding addiction and attitudes were found between them. The MNF had better knowledge and attitudes and agreed that their Institute should be a non-smoking area.
Conclusion: Prevalence of smoking is lower among physicians than among FNM and the similarities between them suggest that addiction can provoke them and that a program for tobacco control is required.