[Communication: a percieved need in the pre-operative period for surgical patients]

The study had as objective to evaluate the patients' feelings in the pre-operative period. The study is descriptive with qualitative approach. It was accomplished in a surgical unit of a public hospital of São Paulo. The population was constituted of patients in the pre-operative period, in the age group from 10 to 80 years. Non-systematized observation and semi-structured glimpses were used for data gathering. The results showed the lack of effective communication caused by the obstacle disturbs the therapeutic relationship, leading the patients to anxiety and depression during the hospitalization, because the lack of surgery orientation and support by the health team.