OBJECTIVE: To identify the socioeconomic profile as well as epidemiological data and evaluate the satisfaction of patients examined during a community project for the treatment of senile cataracts conducted by the Instituto da Visão/Ophthalmology Department - UNIFESP-EPM. METHOD: During the Cataract Project which occurred on 5th Sept, 2002 at the Ophthalmology Department - UNIFESP/EPM, subjects were surveyed by questionnaires developed to identify their socioeconomic characteristics and evaluate their satisfaction regarding attendance. They were randomly selected from the waiting line. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 133 subjects, which represents 50% of patients examined during this Cataract Project. Sixty-one (46%) were male and 72 (54%) female; 117 (87%) were older than 50 years; 111 (84%) finished high school; 74 (55%) were retired and/or pensioners; 99 (74%) had a family income of up to R$ 500,00; 91 (68%) needed someone to assist or accompany them during the visit; 95 (71%) presented cataract with surgical indication. Regarding their satisfaction with the service, 122 (91%) considered the general quality of attendance good; 10 (8%) considered it regular and 1 (1%) bad. CONCLUSION: As a whole the population examined during this Cataract Project was satisfied with the services, but, some aspects have to be improved to better meet their expectations. It is a needy population, with low visual acuity, depends on public health services, has low level education and, most, need someone to accompany them during the visit to the hospital.
Patient satisfaction; Cataract; Health Promotion; Public Health; Questionnaires
