Caregivers’ Treatment Experience and Satisfaction with Spinal Cord Injury Care At A Tertiary Facility in South-West Nigeria

Abstract Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition with significant morbidity, affecting 250,000-500,000 people globally each year, predominantly due to road traffic accidents in Nigeria. Family caregivers play a critical role in SCI management, however, their treatment experiences remain under-researched in Nigeria. Aims: This study investigates caregivers’ treatment experiences and satisfaction with SCI care at a tertiary facility in South-West Nigeria, to inform quality improvements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 108 family caregivers of SCI patients, selected via total sampling from hospital records. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Picker In-Patient and Out-Patient Experience Surveys. The tool assessed socio-demographic characteristics, in-patient and out-patient experiences, and satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with univariate, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses at a 5% significance level. Results: Most caregivers were female (74.1%), middle-aged (mean 46.1 years), and Yoruba (80.6%). Road traffic accidents caused 83.3% of SCIs. In-patient care issues included prolonged stays (70.6%), equipment delays (50.5%), and unclear test explanations (67.0%). Out-patient care, accessed by 71.3%, showed dissatisfaction due to disrespect (40.3%), inadequate information (31.2%), and unaddressed visit purposes (42.9%). Satisfaction was 72% for in-patient and 62% for out-patient care. Lack of decision-making involvement (p=0.002), prolonged waits (p=0.024), and poor care coordination (p=0.018) predicted overall impression and reluctance to recommend the facility. Conclusion: Systemic deficiencies in care coordination, communication, and involvement drive caregiver dissatisfaction. Patient- and family-centered care models are recommended to enhance SCI management and outcome.