The purpose of this study was to investigate patients' need for pre- and postoperative information. Fifty patients admitted to open cholecystectomy were included in the study, 37 women and 13 men. Their median age was 49.5 years, ranging 17-76. The patients answered one questionnaire both at admission and at discharge. In the questionnaire, 48 statements had to be answered on a five-point, Likert scale. Our data show that patients admitted for cholecystectomy want a lot of information both at admission and at discharge. The most requested information was related to anxiety-creating factors such as pain and post-operative symptoms after surgery. Thirty per cent of the patients wanted both written and verbal information. This result focuses on the need to develop and share with the patient both written and verbal information.