Comparison of patient satisfaction with services of Vision Centers in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, India

AIM: To compare the satisfaction of patients with the services of Vision Center services (primary eye care) in large village (s) and small village (s) in rural settings in Andhra Pradesh state, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have administered standard questionnaires to randomly selected patients to assess patient satisfaction when assessing Vision Center Services. We used the Chi-square (P <0.05) to explore differences in satisfaction of patients with Vision Center services located in the large village (s) and small village (s) rural settings. RESULTS: Vision Center patients at the large village (s) expressed higher levels of satisfaction (median 78%) than patients treated at the Vision Center at small village (s) (median 69%). The difference was statistically significant (Chi square P value ranging from <0.001 to 0.03) for all the items except two – ‘easy to identify vision center location’ and ‘spectacles dispensing time’ as compared to other (privately run optometry) facilities (Chi square P value=0.498 and 0.993 respectively). The location of the Vision Center, convenience of journey, ophthalmic technician’s behavior with patients, are some of the most important factors that determined the patient perception about Vision Center services. CONCLUSION: The overall satisfaction levels of the Vision Center experience at 78% and 69% were good. However, continual improvement is to be made in service time, staff performance, cost and quality of vision care, especially at more remote primary eye Care Centers.