PURPOSES: To identify the social and demographic patient profile, and to evaluate the visual outcome of patients enrolled in the Medical Social Cataract Project, developed by the "Altino Ventura Foundation" - Pernambuco State, Brazil. METHODS: 163 patients who underwent cataract surgery and were seen at follow-up in October and November 2002. Data were obtained by a questionnaire, which also included questions about the service qualities provided by several sectors of the institution. The patients were also evaluated as regards the visual acuity and clinical outcome. RESULTS: The patient mean age was 68.4 years. Females were more frequent (67%). Illiteracy was present in 20% of the patients. Housewifeliness (44%) represented the majority of the patient activities. It was found that the relative frequency of several parameters used to assess patient satisfaction with the hospital care was greater than 95%. There was statistically significant improvement, of visual acuity after surgery, in both eyes. Right eye - preoperative = X± SD - 0.193 ± 0.135 - postoperative = 0.650 ± 0.293 "t" = 13.469 - p < 0.0001. Left eye - preoperative = X± SD - 0.217 ± 0.197 - postoperative = 0.666 ± 0.301, "t" = 11.300 - p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of satisfaction in this group of patients, with high illiteracy and excluded from the work force, was very good. An association between the quality of the provided services and benefit of visual acuity improvement was observed. These results were fundamental for greater credibility of the institution.
Cataract; Blindness; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life; Community health services
