ABSTRACT
Patients in healthcare facilities are often fearful and uncertain about their health, safety and isolation from normal social relationships. This is due to the large, complex environment of a typical hospital which further contributes to the stressful situation. This research evaluated patients? satisfaction of the Niger State Government hospital buildings using the Post Occupancy Evaluation approach as a prominent tool with a view to improving the building performance of the hospitals in Niger State. The objectives of this research are, to identify the relevance of the predominant services offered by the general hospitals to use of buildings, to assess the satisfaction of the patients with the general setting of the hospital buildings based on the sections and departments and to determine the factors influencing patients' satisfaction in public hospital buildings. The research work focused on patients in three general hospitals in Niger State- Minna, Bida and Kontagora. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 150 respondents. Findings from the research showed that Clinical service is the predominant services offered by the general hospitals and efficiency is the major factor influencing patients? satisfaction of General Hospital buildings. It was also found that patients are satisfied with the illumination provided in all the departments in the hospital buildings. From the general Post Occupancy Evaluation undertaken, the study therefore concluded that patients of the Niger State General hospitals are fairly satisfied with the characteristics of the facilities of all the Departments in the hospital buildings studied. Major recommendation from the study was that further studies should be undertaken to consider better means of improving cleanliness, aesthetics and comfortability of patients in the General Hospitals Buildings.