Patients' Pe Ception Of The. Quality Of Eye Care At The University College Hospital, Ibadan

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY

Objective: To determine patients' perceptions abou t the

quality of care and possible factors that q'lay prevent

adequate utilization of services at the study centre and

therefore make recommendations for improvement in

service utilization.

Materials and methods: A cross sectional survey of

patients from the Eye Clinic and Eye Ward of the

University College Hospital. Ibadan, was carried out

using a standardized questionnaire between May and

June 2001.

Results: A total of fifty respondents were interviewed:

33 (66%.)we~e male, while 17 (34%) were female. Their

ages ranged from less than 10 years to more than 80

years, with a mean age of 46.5 years. The majority of the

patients (78%) lived within Ibadan, while 22% lived

outside Ibadan. Over half of the respondents (56%) were

gainfully employed. Others included retirees (20%) 'and

students (20%).

Thirty-eight of the respondents (88%) experienced

some obstacles before and/ or on presentation at the

hospital. Notable obstacles to the optimal use of facilities

include: frequent strikes embarked on by hospital

workers (66% of respondents), long wait before seeing

the eye doctor as reported by 36% of respondents; high

cost of ser~i

reported by 12% of those who had surgery; and the

unfriendly attitude of some staff. Recommendations by

respondents for improving the quality of health service

delivery include: provision of more equipment in the

eye clinic (68%) and the employment of more eye

doctors (64%). Other suggestions include reduction in

the cost of surgery and other services (12%),

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