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Background: Monitoring of patients’ experiences and satisfaction provide the health institution one of several parameters to measure quality of services and determine areas where improvement and or additional services are needed. Aim: To determine patients’ satisfaction regarding the services in the ophthalmic out-patient clinic in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among patients attending the eye clinic of the department of ophthalmology, University of Calabar Teaching hospital, Calabar from 1st October to 31st December 2016. All consecutive registered adult patients who gave consent, along with consenting guardians of patients who were younger than 18 years were included in the study and interviewed. An Interviewer-administered pretested and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 software). Frequencies and percentages were used. Parametric analyses included bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions and Pearson coefficient of correlation with p 0∙05 being considered statistically significant. Results: The level of satisfaction with accessibility to the hospital and medical care in the eye clinic was very high 95.4%. On time spent in clinic, majority of respondents (50.8%) felt that the waiting time for emergency treatment was good. However, only 39.9% of the respondents felt that the waiting time to be attended to by a doctor in the routine clinic was short. Waiting time for performing an investigation and subsequently getting the result was reported as poor by 62.5% and very poor by 69% respectively. Ibanga AA, Nkanga DG, Asana UE, Duke RE, Etim BA, Nkanga ED, Utam UA, Agweye CT, Udofia OO. Patients’ satisfaction with eye care services in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. IAIM, 2017; 4(9): 110-118. Page 111 Conclusion: This study demonstrated that only 35.2% of respondents were satisfied with the overall quality of the medical care service received from the eye clinic of the UCTH, Calabar.
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Introduction: Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) is gaining increasing significance in the management of glaucoma patients due to the recognized relationship between CCT and intraocular pressure (IOP) levels. The Objective of this study was to evaluate to what extent CCT modified Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT), and thus management decisions in the care of glaucoma patients and suspects in Calabar, Nigeria. Materials and methods: All consenting patients seen from January to December 2015 in University of Calabar teaching Hospital (UCTH) eye clinic and Zerah Eye Hospital and Laser Center, Calabar who were diagnosed as Glaucoma suspects/patients were included. IOP was measured by Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT), and CCT measured by handheld contact ultrasound pachymetry. Data entry and analysis was performed using STATA 12 software. Results were summarized in frequencies, percentages and means while comparison was done using 95% confidence interval. Results: The study sample was 256 with 133(51%) females and 123(48%) males. The mean age was 45.52years ±17.82. The mean CCT was 530µm. An inverse relationship between CCT and age was seen; mean CCT of 518.29µm and 548.93µm for the oldest age and youngest age groups respectively. Increasing age is a known risk factor for glaucoma, but it remains to be elucidated if the progressive Nkanga DG, Ibanga AA, Nkanga ED, Etim BA, Nwachukwu KU, Ogba PO. Role of central corneal thickness measurement in management of open angle glaucoma and glaucoma suspects in Calabar, Nigeria. IAIM, 2017; 4(7): 131-138. Page 132 thinning in CCT with age confers an independent risk factor. The mean IOP was 15.835 and CCT adjusted values for IOP varying from -7 to +7 mmHg with mean IOP adjustment of 0.84mmHg ± 2.66mmHg for right eye and mean IOP adjusted value of 0.98mmHg ± 2.69mmHg for the left eye. Over 50% had adjusted IOP values of ≥1.5mmHg, while 36% had adjusted values of ≥3mmHg. Conclusion: Measurement of CCT was important for management decisions as 36% of study subject required IOP adjusted values of ≥3mmHg, thus affecting diagnostic criteria and modifying decisions on „Target IOP‟ during management. Routine CCT measurement at diagnosis should be part of a minimum package of care even in low resource settings, for the glaucoma patients to avoid undertreatment/overtreatment from „falsely‟ elevated or lowered IOPs.