Characterization of smoking in workers of the faculty of medicine 2 of Santiago de Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking constitutes a global pandemic, as well as a serious social and health problem due to the multiple harmful effects on the health, not only of the people who consume it, but also of those who live with them. Objective: To characterize smoking in the workers of the Faculty of Medicine 2 of Santiago de Cuba during the period January to October 2020. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 95 workers, who gave their consent. informed to participate in the study. Variables such as: age, sex, comorbidities, other toxic habits and smoking criteria were measured. A survey was applied as the primary instrument and the mathematical method used was percentage analysis to quantify all the data provided. Results: 60.4% (26) of the workers who participated in the study and smoked were hypertensive. No less significant is the 25.5% of workers with some cardiovascular disease. Discussion: In studies that were presented at the Latin American Congress of HTA held in 2017, the inadequate lifestyles of the Cuban population were exposed, with sedentary lifestyle, smoking and obesity present in more than 93.7% of the population. studied in the last five years with HTN, associated with increased intake of saturated fats and alcoholic beverages (90.8%). Conclusions: Despite knowing its harmful effects, workers consume tobacco; however, the majority of them recognize that it is an incorrect habit to practice in front of their colleagues and students, which demonstrates the need to enforce the regulations established for smoking and systematically disseminate the exemplary role of health professionals as agents of change in society.