ABSTRACT :
The study was conducted in 5 different setting in Assiut Governorate: Assiut
University Hospitals; Health Insurance Hospital (Elmabarra); Assiut General Hospital
(Elshamla); District hospitals (Dirout and Abnob Hospital); Rural Hospitals (Dronka
and Banimohamadiat Hospitals). 30%of the total number of each of the previous setting
was taken. The total number of the sample was 500 nurses. A written structured
interview questionnaire was designed for this study. The data collection period
extended for eight months from August 1998 to March1999. Only one nurse has been
interviewed at a time using the study questionnaire. Each single interview took about 25
minutes. The aim of the present study is to assess the nurses’ knowledge about
accidents among the elderly, causes, types, complications, prevention, and the nursing
role in accidents’ prevention. The study showed (50%)of the sample stated that the road
accident is the most common type, followed by falls (40.2%), almost half of the sample
(51.4%) stated that arthritis is one of the main diseases contributing falls in the elderly.
Around one third of the sample (31.4%) stated that caring for the elderly’ medications
while (5.4%) suggested attending training program for personnel working with the
elderly are items of roles in accidents’ prevention. The study recommended that
Teaching curriculum should be contain more information about the elderly and their
problems in all levels of education i.e., schools and university, to develop, plan, and
implement educational programs related to accidents’ prevention among the elderly for
nurses and other personnel working with this sector, health education should be given
through mass media regarding the first aid, especially during accident occurrence
among the elderly.