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This paper presents a qualitative study focusing on how patients experience the information they receive in connection with an operation. The study seeks knowledge about which topics the patients receive information about, and the significance of information for mastering the role as surgical patient. The study also investigates to what extent the patients find their need for information fulfilled. Data were collected in semistructured interviews with eight strategically sampled patients who had had elective gastrointestinal surgery in a Norwegian hospital. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, before a cross case analysis was carried out to identify recurrent themes. The informants express that most important was the information ´s influence on the experience of safety and hope. The results of this study show that patients wish for more information that enable them to interpret their own experiences and reactions in a situation of uncertainty with regards to their condition. Lack of such knowledge creates uncertainty and fear. The patients are also poorly prepared for discharge. The study indicates that the patients have largely varying needs concerning information, which implies that it is difficult to approach the problem with standardized information programmes alone. A supplement of individual information is therefore recommended. Further studies to chart the nurses´ appraisal of this group of patients´ need for information are recommended together with further similar studies of different groups of patients.

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