DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2025.v11i07.012

Pages: 706-714

Background: The quality of hospital care is a major determinant of patient satisfaction and therapeutic effectiveness, particularly in resource-limited settings where family caregivers play a central role. This study aims to explore family caregivers' perceptions of care quality in ENT and cervico-maxillo-facial surgery wards at Yaoundé Central Hospital. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a qualitative exploratory study between January and June 2024 at Yaounde Central Hospital. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 67 family caregivers of patients hospitalized in ENT and cervico-maxillo-facial surgery. In-depth semi-structured interviews (45±10 minutes) were conducted until data saturation. The interview guide explored five dimensions: care experience, communication with healthcare staff, hospital environment, challenges encountered, and improvement suggestions. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic approach with NVivo 12 software. Data triangulation was performed by comparing interviews with direct observations and field notes. Reliability was ensured through independent double coding and participant verification. Results: Five major themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) communication with healthcare staff (75% of participants emphasizing its critical importance); (2) hospitalization conditions, including hygiene and infrastructure (90%); (3) availability of medications and medical equipment (80%); (4) involvement in care and need for training (60%); and (5) influence of cultural factors on expectations and perceived role of family caregivers (95%). Illustrative verbatim quotes were selected for each theme, demonstrating the impact of these factors on the overall experience of family caregivers. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for a holistic and culturally adapted approach to improve care quality, integrating the perspective of family caregivers as essential stakeholders in the therapeutic process. Target