Assessment of Patient Satisfaction with Eye Care Services at General Hospitals in Cross River State

Patient satisfaction is a critical indicator of healthcare quality and a determinant of health-seeking behavior and treatment adherence. This study assesses patient satisfaction with eye care services at selected general hospitals in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design will be used, targeting 400 patients attending eye care outpatient departments at the General Hospital Calabar and three other public facilities across the state. A modified version of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (PSQ-18), adapted for the Nigerian eye care context, will be administered. Dimensions assessed will include communication, staff attitude, waiting time, cleanliness, availability of medications, and overall satisfaction. Data analysis will employ descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression to identify predictors of satisfaction. The study anticipates that waiting time and medication availability will be the strongest negative predictors of patient satisfaction. Findings will be presented to the Cross River State Ministry of Health and hospital management teams to support targeted quality improvement initiatives. This research provides a locally grounded, evidence-based assessment of eye care service quality from the patient's perspective in the South South geopolitical zone and reinforces the need for patient-centered approaches in public hospital eye care delivery in Nigeria. Keywords: patient satisfaction, eye care services, Cross River State, public hospitals, service quality