The objective of this study was to describe the influence of culture on 12 surgical patients. The data was collected by interviews and the analysis was based on the framework of the qualitative methodology. The results showed four cathegories of influence: the type of pain, the expectancy by pain, the meaning of the pain and the pain management. The meaning apprehended is suffering and was verbalized by metaphors. The study considers the importance of the cultural comprehension about pain by the nurse.
Pain; Culture; Surgical patient