title: [Effects on welfare of children and adults with chronic disease caregivers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparing the quality of caregivers' lives when they are related to child and adult patients suffering from chronic diseases (Cartagena, Colombia).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out on 91 child and 97 adult patient caregivers in three hospitals located in Cartagena, Colombia. Ferrell et al.'s psychometric test was used for ascertaining social well-being. Student's t-test was used for testing the effect of care-giving on physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females aged 18 to 59 predominated as caregivers in both groups. The percentage of child caregivers who had not completed primary school was higher than that of those looking after adults. Psychological and social welfare was most affected in stroke care-givers (48.7 cf 50.5 (T<0.05) and 21.8 cf 19.2 (T <0.05), respectively). Child caregivers were significantly more affected than adult caregivers regarding spiritual welfare (23.7 cf 22.6 (T<0.05)). There was no significant difference regarding physical wellbeing (10.5 cf 11.1 (T>0.05)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experience of care-giving significantly modified people's perception of others' quality of life. Caregivers as an important source of informal care require health system support, particularly from nurses.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia. iflorezt@unicartagena.edu.co
authors.forename: Inna E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Flórez-Torres
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montalvo-Prieto
authors.forename: Arleth
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrera-Lían
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romero-Massa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult