The Impact of Intergenerational Engagement on Social Work Students' Attitudes toward Aging: The Example of Clermont College.

As a response to our rapidly aging society, professional training programs in health care need to offer rich applied learning experiences with older adults and educate students about ageist attitudes. Health care professionals are likely to work with older adults in a variety of settings, yet ageist attitudes continue to be a barrier to workforce development. This study evaluated the effects of an intergenerational lifelong learning initiative as a way to decrease ageist attitudes in social work students. The research hypothesis was that intergenerational engagement would help reduce ageist attitudes of social work students. Paired samples t tests were conducted with 32 students through pre- and post-surveys of the ROPE (Relating to Old People Evaluation). Results indicated a significant decrease in ageist attitudes overall, in negative ageism, and in students' self-report of behaviors such as complimenting older adults "despite their age" and avoiding older adults. Qualitative comments indicated significant changes in perception about the aging experience and increased awareness of ageist stereotypes. Overall, this pilot study offers an encouraging model that can be applied through future partnerships to reduce ageism of students in health care-related fields.

Severe psychiatric problems in right hepatic lobe donors for living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality from donation of a right hepatic lobe for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an important issue for this procedure. We report the prevalence of severe psychiatric postoperative complications from the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort study (A2ALL), which was established to define the risks and benefits of LDLT for donors and recipients. METHODS: Severe psychiatric complications were evaluated in all donors from the A2ALL study who were evaluated between 1998 and February 2003. RESULTS: Of the 392 donors, 16 (4.1%) had one or multiple psychiatric complications, including three severe psychiatric complications (suicide, accidental drug overdose, and suicide attempt). CONCLUSIONS: Despite extensive preoperative screening, some donors experience severe psychiatric complications, including suicide, after liver donation. Psychiatric assessment and monitoring of liver donors may help to understand and prevent such tragic events.