ASSESSING PARENTS' VIEWS OF PEDIATRIC SURGICAL SERVICES IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN NIGERIA

Health care organizations, like service providers in other sectors, are increasingly evaluated based on the satisfaction of their clients. In the health sector, patients and their relatives constitute key stakeholders whose perceptions reflect the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of care. Patient satisfaction has therefore emerged as an important indicator of health care quality, representing the degree to which health services meet patients’ needs, expectations, and preferences. Unlike conventional customer satisfaction, patient satisfaction encompasses multidimensional experiences that include interpersonal relationships, communication, facility environment, and clinical outcomes. Surveys of patient satisfaction are commonly undertaken to evaluate provider performance and infrastructure, based on the premise that satisfaction reflects the structure, process, and outcomes of care delivery. Additionally, satisfaction data are valuable for predicting health-seeking behaviour, as variations in perceived service quality can influence service utilization and trust in health systems. Within pediatric surgical settings, parental perceptions play a crucial role because children often depend on caregivers to interpret and evaluate their care experiences. Parents’ assessments of communication with health professionals, adequacy of information provided, waiting times, perioperative care, and overall hospital environment can significantly shape satisfaction levels and subsequent health care decisions. Evaluating parental satisfaction is therefore essential for continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, and accountability in tertiary health facilities. This study aims to explore parental perceptions of pediatric surgical care in a tertiary hospital context, providing insights into strengths and areas requiring improvement. Findings from such evaluations are expected to inform targeted quality assurance interventions, enhance provider–caregiver relationships, and support policy formulation aimed at improving pediatric surgical service delivery. Ultimately, integrating parental feedback into quality improvement strategies may contribute to better health outcomes, increased service utilization, and strengthened confidence in tertiary health care institutions