Introduction:

smoking is considered a public health problem due its extent and because of the sanitary consequences it brings about and the elevated economic and social costs this addition generates. Many young people all over the world consume tobacco every day, and the prevalence increases in university students, which is explained by factors such as academic stress and the influence of the group.

Objective:

to characterize smoking in Cuban university students of medical sciences during January-February, 2021.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in Cuban students of medical sciences. The target group comprised all medical students of the country from the academic course 2020-2021.

Results:

the greatest part of the students referred they have never smoked. Many of the students surveyed, who are passive smokers, confirmed that during the last 30 days somebody smoked in the enclosed environment where they study. In students who smoke, but not every day, it was observed the majority of them smoke in stressful situations or under the feeling of nervousness; finding a marked relation between smoking and the addiction of other drugs. Regarding nicotine dependence, 44.7% presented moderate dependence.

Conclusions:

the main motivation to smoking in the students of medical sciences is related to the management of stress, showing this, the need to incorporate in the training of students, psychological tools for the appropriate management of stressful situations.

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