الفهرس 
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Abstract
Osteoporosis is an important worldwide public health challenge. It results in significant pain, loss of function and mortality. Often begins at an early age and its influenced by endocrine and metabolic changes as well as by age and gender-related effects on bone. knowledge and health behavior play significant roles in helping elders to maintain health in later life. The health behaviors that can impact the health of elders, the most are healthy eating, exercise and avoid smoking. Also, knowledge about osteoporosis increase its impact on the prevention of osteoporosis, osteoporosis related fractures and early diagnosis of the disease. Most of the elderly were not practicing health behaviors such as consumed far less calcium than the recommended amounts , did not practice weight-bearing exercises and consumed large amounts of various types of beverage. Gerontological nurse should start nursing management with assessment of elderly behaviors , knowledge and plan for how to increase elders knowledge about osteoporosis, health- related behaviors .
The aim of this study was to identify knowledge and health behaviors of the elderly regarding osteoporosis.
Research tools and method:
The study was carried out in the outpatient clinics at El- Mansoura University Hospital namely; Diabetes mellitus clinic, Hypertension clinic, Cardiovascular diseases clinic and Orthopaedic clinic. All elderly persons who fulfilled the following criteria (elders who age 60 years and more of both sexes, able to communicate, agree to participate in the study). Their number amounted to 300 elderly persons.
Data was collected using four tools
I: Health behaviors structured interview schedule
This tool was used to collect data about Socio – demographic characteristics of the sample, Medical history and family history, Health behaviors related to osteoporosis.
II: Osteoporosis knowledge structured interview schedule
This tool was used to assess elders knowledge related to osteoporosis. It Included questions related to definition of osteoporosis, causes, risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention.
III: Katz and Akpom scale 1976 assessment of activities of daily living
Katz and Akpom scale 1976 was used to assess the ability of the elderly to perform activities of daily living (ADL).
IV: Lawton and Brody scale 1969 assessment of instrumental activities of daily living
Lawton and Brody scale 1969 was used to assess the ability of the elderly to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).
The elders were individually interviewed by the researcher in the waiting room during data collection . Data was collected during a period of 3 months (from the first of May 2008 until the end of the July 2008). The statistical package for social science (SPSS) was utilized for data analysis and tabulation. The level of significance selected for this study was ”P” equal or less than 0.05.