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Musculoskeletal disorders are an important public health problem. Among them are back conditions, a complex problem for certain occupational groups such as nursing personnel. Proper body mechanics are vitally important for keeping our spine healthy. A descriptive research design was used to assess the knowledge regarding the use of body mechanics. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 50 B. Sc Nursing IV year students. The data was collected by using a structured questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The collected data were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics and findings showed that 6 (12%) had adequate knowledge, 41 (82%) had moderate knowledge and 3 (6%) had inadequate knowledge. There was a significant association between the level of knowledge and selected demographic variables such as regular exercising habits.

An increasing number of patients older than 65 years are referred for and have access to organ transplantation, and an increasing number of older adults are donating organs. Although short-term outcomes are similar in older versus younger transplant recipients, older donor or recipient age is associated with inferior long-term outcomes. However, age is often a proxy for other factors that might predict poor outcomes more strongly and better identify patients at risk for adverse events. Approaches to transplantation in older adults vary across programs, but despite recent gains in access and the increased use of marginal organs, older patients remain less likely than other groups to receive a transplant, and those who do are highly selected. Moreover, few studies have addressed geriatric issues in transplant patient selection or management, or the implications on health span and disability when patients age to late life with a transplanted organ. This paper summarizes a recent trans-disciplinary workshop held by ASP, in collaboration with NHLBI, NIA, NIAID, NIDDK, and AGS, to address issues related to kidney, liver, lung, or heart transplantation in older adults and to propose a research agenda in these areas.

Although comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has been conducted in many settings, its use in community-based outreach programs has been limited. We have developed Project Safety Net, a program that identifies low-income urban-dwelling frail elderly persons and provides CGA and appropriate referral. The program uses validated screening instruments and makes extensive use of a custom-designed computer program to provide information to the interdisciplinary team and for research purposes. During an 8 month period, 814 older persons were screened including high proportions who were widowed (51%) and who lived alone (66%). The effectiveness of this program remains to be determined in a randomized clinical trial.