Smoking habits and attitudes towards smoking of medical students (n = 725), house officers (n = 126) and consultants (n = 236) of the University Hospital of Groningen were studied, in 1989 by means of a World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire. Overall response rate was 84%. Twenty seven percent of the medical students are current smokers, 28% of the house officers and 34% of the consultants. There is a remarkable difference among medical specialists i.e: smoking prevalence is highest among psychiatrists and lowest among paediatricians. The prevalence of smoking in medical students and house officers is lower than in the Dutch population. Smoking habits of the consultants are similar to those of the general population. About 75% of the doctors reported having no experience with smoking cessation programmes. Doctors report a need for more skills and knowledge on smoking cessation programmes.