TITLE:
Psychosocial, Material, Logistical, Information, and Communication Needs of Informal Caregivers during Cardiovascular Hospitalization at the Abidjan Heart Institute, Côte d’Ivoire: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Benedicte Carine Boka, Fatoumata Traore, Nancy Mobiot, Micesse Estelle Tano, Augustin Yeo, Yacouba Kone, Djenamba Bamba-Kamagate
KEYWORDS:
Informal Caregivers, Cardiovascular Hospitalization, Psychosocial Needs, Family-Centered Care, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.9,
September
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: In many hospitals, relatives remain with patients and assist with day-to-day needs, communication, and expenses. Evidence on the needs of these accompanying caregivers during cardiovascular admission in sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. This study described psychosocial, material, logistical, and information and communication needs among caregivers at the Abidjan Heart Institute. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2024. Among patients hospitalized for more than 3 days, adults aged at least 18 years who had been present with the patient for more than 3 days were recruited consecutively. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Perceived stress was assessed using a single four-point self-rating item, whereas anxiety was explored with a yes/no question. Neither measure was designed as a validated diagnostic tool. Analyses were descriptive. Results: The study included 205 caregivers, with a mean age of 42 ± 12 years; 75% were women. No caregiver reported an absence of stress; just over half (52%) rated their stress as moderate, and 86% reported feeling anxious about the patient’s condition. Psychological support was largely unavailable, as reported by 95% of participants. Caregivers also described several practical difficulties during hospitalization. Nearly all reported having no dedicated place to rest or sleep (97%) and no food service within or close to the institute (94%), while 82% experienced financial difficulties. Communication with the healthcare team was another recurring issue: 87 caregivers (42%) said they did not receive regular updates about the patient’s condition, and 71 (35%) found the information provided difficult to understand. Conclusion: Caring for a hospitalized cardiovascular patient was associated with emotional strain as well as practical, financial, and communication challenges. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence of psychiatric disorders, given the nature of the measures used. They do, however, point to aspects of hospital care that could be reviewed locally, including more consistent communication with families, access to psychosocial support when needed, suitable areas for rest, and better links to available social assistance.