Aim: To identify the main concerns before and after undergoing a surgical procedure, and to identify differences based on gender, age and level of education. Material and Method: 201 semi-structured surveys were administered to people in the waiting room of the HSJD by means of incidental non-probabilistic sampling. The responses were processed by means of a mixed analysis in which categories were organized by units of significance and ordered in decreasing order to then compare according to age, gender and schooling. Results: Regarding the aspects that people considered relevant to know before surgery, 4 categories accounted for 71% of the total: 1. Risks, complications and sequels, 2. Explanation of the procedure, 3. Benefits and prognosis, 4. Prior care and evaluations. In relation to what you would like to have explained to you afterwards, priority is given to: 1. knowing the results of the procedure (19.3%), 2. Monitoring, referrals and palliative care (15%), 3. Recovery time (13.7%). Significant differences: a greater need for accompaniment and explanation of the pathology expressed by men, interest in knowing and aspects related to postoperative functionality in persons between 18-65 years of age, interest in knowing the previous care and evaluations, knowing the results of the procedure, wound care and postoperative functionality according to educational level. Discussion and conclusion: There are significant variations in priority content according to age, gender and educational level. Finally, the present article provides evidence regarding the main priorities of patients in the chilean public system for informed consent.