Maya Clark-Cutaia

Faculty

Maya Clark Cutaia Headshot

Maya Clark-Cutaia

MSN PhD RN

Assistant Professor

1 212 998 5280

433 FIRST AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10010
United States

Maya Clark-Cutaia's additional information

Maya Clark-Cutaia, RN, MSN, PhD, is an assistant professor of nursing at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her scholarship focuses on the increased risk morbidity and mortality that result from ESRD and hemodialysis renal replacement therapy. This patient population is more likely to suffer from sudden cardiac events, are two to three times more likely to be rehospitalized than the general population, and spend a disproportionally high percentage of Medicare funds. Clark-Cutaia’s long-term goal is to impact ESRD sufferer's quality of life by decreasing symptom burden. Clark-Cutaia continues to practice as a nurse practitioner in the fields of Urology, General Surgery, and Otorhinolaryngology.

Clark-Cutaia received a K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (1K23NR015058) from the National Institute of Nursing Research to build her program of research in symptom science to determine the effects of carefully monitored levels of sodium-intake as set forth by the National Kidney Foundation, Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, and AHA on symptoms and signs in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. 

Prior to joining the faculty at NYU Meyers, Clark-Cutaia was a senior lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She was a clinical faculty member in the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Program and co-taught the undergraduate and graduate-level "Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice" courses. 

Clark-Cutaia received her PhD in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and MS and BS in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. Clark-Cutaia’s predoctoral training was initially supported by a T32 predoctoral fellowship (T32NR00885705) and then by an individual NRSA F31 predoctoral fellowship (1F31NR014310) for her research on dietary modification management in end-stage renal disease sufferers on hemodialysis. Immediately after completing her PhD, she returned to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing for a T32 postdoctoral fellowship (T32NR007100), which culminated in Clark-Cutaia’s receipt of the K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (cited above).

PhD, University of Pittsburgh
MSN, University of Pennsylvania
BS, University of Pennsylvania

Acute Care

American Association for Nurse Practitioners
American Heart Association
American Nurses Association
Eastern Nursing Research Society
Military Officers Association of America
National Black Nurses Association
National Kidney Foundation
Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
Pennsylvania State Nurses Association
Reserve Officer Association
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing

Faculty Honors Awards

Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Eta Chapter, Xi Chapter (2011)
Nursing Award for Special Achievement (2003)
Sojourner Truth Award (2003)

Publications

Understanding Food Insecurity as a Determinant of Health in Pregnancy Within the United States : An Integrative Review

Pasha, V. C., Gerchow, L., Lyndon, A., Clark-Cutaia, M., & Wright, F. (2024). (Vols. 8, Issue 1, pp. 206-225). 10.1089/heq.2023.0116
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Food insecurity is a major public health concern in the United States, particularly for pregnant and postpartum individuals. In 2020, ∼13.8 million (10.5%) U.S. households experienced food insecurity. However, the association between food security and pregnancy outcomes in the United States is poorly understood.PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to critically appraise the state of the evidence related to food insecurity as a determinant of health within the context of pregnancy in the United States. We also explored the relationship between food insecurity and pregnancy outcomes.METHODS: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Food and Nutrition Science databases were used. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies about food (in)security, position articles from professional organizations, and policy articles about pregnancy outcomes and breastfeeding practices. Studies conducted outside of the United States and those without an adequate definition of food (in)security were excluded. Neonatal health outcomes were also excluded. Included articles were critically appraised with the STROBE and Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklists.RESULTS: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Inconsistencies exist in defining and measuring household food (in)security. Pregnant and postpartum people experienced several adverse physiological and psychological outcomes that impact pregnancy compared with those who do not. Intersections between neighborhood conditions and other economic hardships were identified. Findings regarding the impact of food insecurity on breastfeeding behaviors were mixed, but generally food insecurity was not associated with poor breastfeeding outcomes in adjusted models.CONCLUSION: Inconsistencies in definitions and measures of food security limit definitive conclusions. There is a need for standardizing definitions and measures of food insecurity, as well as a heightened awareness and policy change to alleviate experiences of food insecurity.

The Analgesic Properties of a Music Intervention in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

Kelly-Hellyer, E., Sigueza, A. L., Pestritto, M., & Clark-Cutaia, M. (2023). 10.1016/j.jopan.2022.12.007
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a combined music pharmacological intervention was an effective multimodal approach to reduce adult pain in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Design: A prospective, randomized control trial study. Methods: Participants were recruited in the preoperative holding area on the day of surgery by the principal investigators. Music was selected by the patient following the informed consent process. Participants were randomized either to the intervention group or the control group. Patients in the intervention group received music in addition to standard pharmacological protocol while the control group received only the standard pharmacological protocol. Measured outcomes were change in visual analog pain scores and length of stay. Findings: In this cohort (N = 134), 68 participants (50.7%) received the intervention, and 66 participants (49.3%) were in the control group. Paired t tests showed that pain scores for the control group worsened by an average of 1.45-points (95% CI: 0.75, 2.15; P < .001) compared to 0.34-points in the intervention group and was not significant (P = .314) as scores went from 1 out of 10 to 1.4 out of 10. Both control and intervention groups experienced pain, with the control group's overall pain scores worsening over time. This finding was statistically significant (P = .023). No statistically significant difference was noted in the average PACU length of stay (LOS). Conclusions: The addition of music to the standard postoperative pain protocol demonstrated a lower average pain score on discharge from the PACU. The absence of a difference in LOS may be due to the confounding variables (eg, general versus spinal anesthesia or a difference in voiding time).

Association of Perceived Neighborhood Health With Hypertension Self-care

Lunyera, J., Davenport, C. A., Ephraim, P., Mohottige, D., Bhavsar, N. A., Clark-Cutaia, M., Cabacungan, A., Depasquale, N., Peskoe, S., & Boulware, L. E. (2023). (Vols. 6, Issues 2, p. E2255626). 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55626
Abstract
Abstract
Importance: Hypertension self-management is recommended for optimal blood pressure (BP) control, but self-identified residential contextual factors that hinder hypertension self-care are understudied. Objective: To quantify perceived neighborhood health and hypertension self-care and assess interactions with the area deprivation index (ADI) and healthy food availability at home. Design, Setting, and Participants: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, including primary care adults enrolled in the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together trial between September 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. Participants were Black and had at least 2 BP readings greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg in the 6 months before enrollment. Analyses were conducted from August 5, 2021, to January 28, 2022. Exposures: Participants' perceived neighborhood health, defined as the mean standardized score across 4 subdomains of aesthetic quality, walkability, safety, and violence, with a higher score signifying better neighborhood health. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hypertension self-care behavior and self-efficacy. Multivariable generalized linear models were fit regressing each outcome on perceived neighborhood health (higher scores on each domain signify better perceived neighborhood health), adjusted for confounders, and interaction terms between neighborhood health and potential modifiers (ADI [higher percentiles correspond to more deprivation] and healthy food availability [higher scores indicate greater availability]) of the primary association were included. Results: Among 159 participants (median [IQR] age, 57 [49-64] years; mean [SD] age, 57 (11) years; 117 women [74%]), median (IQR) hypertension self-care behavior was 50 (45-56) and self-efficacy was 64 (57-72). Better perceived neighborhood health was associated with greater hypertension self-care behavior (β, 2.48; 95% CI, 0.63-4.33) and self-efficacy (β, 4.42; 95% CI, 2.25-6.59); these associations persisted for all neighborhood health subdomains except aesthetic quality. There were no statistically significant interactions between perceived neighborhood health or its subdomains with ADI on self-care behavior (P =.74 for interaction) or self-efficacy (P =.85 for interaction). However, better perceived neighborhood aesthetic quality had associations with greater self-care behavior specifically at higher healthy food availability at home scores: β at -1 SD, -0.29; 95% CI, -2.89 to 2.30 vs β at 1 SD, 2.97; 95% CI, 0.46-5.47; P =.09 for interaction). Likewise, associations of perceived worse neighborhood violence with lower self-care behavior were attenuated at higher healthy food availability at home scores (β for -1 SD, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.31-6.08 vs β for 1 SD, 0.01; 95% CI, -2.53 to 2.54; P =.04 for interaction). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, better perceived neighborhood health was associated with greater hypertension self-care among Black individuals with hypertension, particularly among those with greater in-home food availability. Thus, optimizing hypertension self-management may require multifaceted interventions targeting both the patients' perceived contextual neighborhood barriers to self-care and availability of healthy food resources in the home.

Effects of a high salt diet on blood pressure dipping and the implications on hypertension

Viggiano, J., Coutinho, D., Clark-Cutaia, M., & Martinez, D. (2023). (Vols. 17). 10.3389/fnins.2023.1212208
Abstract
Abstract
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Salt intake has been shown to have a significant impact on BP, but the mechanisms by which it influences the blood pressure dipping pattern, and 24-h blood pressure remains controversial. This literature review aims to both summarize the current evidence on high salt diet induced hypertension and discuss the epidemiological aspects including socioeconomic issues in the United States and abroad. Our review indicates that a high salt diet is associated with a blunted nocturnal blood pressure dipping pattern, which is characterized by a reduced decrease in blood pressure during the nighttime hours. The mechanisms by which high salt intake affects blood pressure dipping patterns are not fully understood, but it is suggested that it may be related to changes in the sympathetic nervous system. Further, we looked at the association between major blood pressure and circadian rhythm regulatory centers in the brain, including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS). We also discuss the underlying social and economic issues in the United States and around the world. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that a high salt diet is associated with a blunted, non-dipping, or reverse dipping blood pressure pattern, which has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms by which high salt intake influences changes within the central nervous system.

Evolving Trends in Kidney Transplant Outcomes among Older Adults : A Comparative Analysis before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Li, Y., Menon, G., Wu, W., Musunuru, A., Chen, Y., Quint, E. E., Clark-Cutaia, M., Zeiser, L. B., Segev, D. L., & McAdams-Demarco, M. A. (2023). (Vols. 9, Issues 12, p. E1520). 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001520
Abstract
Abstract
Background. Advancements in medical technology, healthcare delivery, and organ allocation resulted in improved patient/graft survival for older (age ≥65) kidney transplant (KT) recipients. However, the recent trends in these post-KT outcomes are uncertain in light of the mounting burden of cardiovascular disease, changing kidney allocation policies, heterogeneity in candidates' risk profile, and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Thus, we examined secular trends in post-KT outcomes among older and younger KT recipients over the last 3 decades. Methods. We identified 73 078 older and 378 800 younger adult (aged 18-64) recipients using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (1990-2022). KTs were grouped into 6 prepandemic eras and 1 postpandemic-onset era. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine temporal trends in post-KT mortality and death-censored graft failure. Results. From 1990 to 2022, a 19-fold increase in the proportion of older KT recipients was observed compared to a 2-fold increase in younger adults despite a slight decline in the absolute number of older recipients in 2020. The mortality risk for older recipients between 2015 and March 14, 2020, was 39% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.50-0.75) lower compared to 1990-1994, whereas that for younger adults was 47% lower (aHR = 0.53, 95% CI, 0.48-0.59). However, mortality risk during the pandemic was 25% lower (aHR = 0.75, 95% CI, 0.61-0.93) in older adults and 37% lower in younger adults (aHR = 0.63, 95% CI, 0.56-0.70) relative to 1990-1994. For both populations, the risk of graft failure declined over time and was unaffected during the pandemic relative to the preceding period. Conclusions. The steady improvements in 5-y mortality and graft survival were disrupted during the pandemic, particularly among older adults. Specifically, mortality among older adults reflected rates seen 20 y prior.

Trends in the survival benefit of repeat kidney transplantation over the past 3 decades

Sandal, S., Ahn, J. Y., Chen, Y., Massie, A. B., Clark-Cutaia, M., Wu, W., Cantarovich, M., Segev, D. L., & McAdams-DeMarco, M. A. (2023). (Vols. 23, Issues 5, pp. 666-672). 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.01.008
Abstract
Abstract
Repeat kidney transplantation (re-KT) is the preferred treatment for patients with graft failure. Changing allocation policies, widening the risk profile of recipients, and improving dialysis care may have altered the survival benefit of a re-KT. We characterized trends in re-KT survival benefit over 3 decades and tested whether it differed by age, race/ethnicity, sex, and panel reactive assay (PRA). By using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient data, we identified 25 419 patients who underwent a re-KT from 1990 to 2019 and 25 419 waitlisted counterfactuals from the same year with the same waitlisted time following graft failure. In the adjusted analysis, a re-KT was associated with a lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.65). By using the 1990-1994 era as a reference (aHR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.85), incremental improvements in the survival benefit were noted (1995-1999: aHR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.67-0.78: 2000-2004: aHR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.55-0.63: 2005-2009: aHR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63: 2010-2014: aHR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.53-0.62: 2015-2019: aHR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.57-0.73). The survival benefit of a re-KT was noted in both younger (age = 18-64 years: aHR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.61-0.65) and older patients (age ≥65 years: aHR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58-0.74; Pinteraction = .45). Patients of all races/ethnicities demonstrated similar benefits with a re-KT. However, it varied by the sex of the recipient (female patients: aHR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63: male patients: aHR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.63-0.68; Pinteraction = .004) and PRA (0-20: aHR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.65-0.74: 21-80: aHR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.57-0.66; Pinteraction = .02; >80: aHR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.53-0.61; Pinteraction< .001). Our findings support the continued practice of a re-KT and efforts to overcome the medical, immunologic, and surgical challenges of a re-KT.

The analgesic properties of a music intervention in the post anesthesia care unit.

Clark-Cutaia, M., Kelly-Hellyer, E., Prestritto, M., & Sigueza, A. L. (2022).
Abstract
Abstract
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Co-Design Methods in Women's Reproductive Health Services Research: An Integrative Review

Gerchow, L., Ma, C., Clark-Cutaia, M., & Squires, A. P. (2022). (Vols. 71, Issues 3, pp. S98-S98).
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Content Validity Assessment of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire in CKD Using Qualitative Methods

Rivera, E., Levoy, K., Clark-Cutaia, M., Schrauben, S., Townsend, R. R., Rahman, M., Lash, J., Saunders, M., Frazier, R., Rincon-Choles, H., & Hirschman, K. B. (2022). (Vols. 19, Issues 14). 10.3390/ijerph19148654
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) measures individuals’ unique perceptions of their illness. While psychometric properties of the IPQ-R have been demonstrated in many disease populations, its content validity has not been extensively studied in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). Unique features of CKD (e.g., few symptoms in early stages) may impact the measurement of illness perceptions. The purpose of this study was to explore the IPQ-R content validity in a sample of CKD patients. Methods: Thirty-one participants completed the IPQ-R and were interviewed regarding their subscale scores (timeline, consequences, personal control, treatment control, coherence, cyclical, and emotions). Participants’ agreement with their scores was tallied and assessed qualitatively for themes related to the content validity of the measure. Results: Individual participant agreement with their subscale scores averaged 79% (range: 29–100%). Subscale agreement varied: timeline (100%), consequences, coherence, and emotion (83% each), cyclical (75%), personal control (65%), and treatment control (64%). A qualitative exploration of disagreement responses revealed concerns with the relevance and comprehensibility of personal control and treatment control. Conclusions: Some IPQ-R subscales may pose content validity concerns in the non-dialysis CKD population. Item modification for comprehensibility (personal control) and relevance (treatment control) should be considered. Future studies should explore the impact of a patient’s symptom experience on IPQ-R validity, especially in populations like CKD with a higher proportion of asymptomatic patients.

Demystifying the National Institutes of Health diversity supplement : Mentee and mentor experiences and recommendations

Travers, J. L., David, D., Weir, M., Clark-Cutaia, M., Enwerem, N., Okunji, P. O., & Schulman-Green, D. (2022). 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.07.007
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The National Institutes of Health supports professional development of diverse researchers through diversity supplements. Limited awareness and understanding of the application process have hindered utilization of this funding mechanism. Purpose: We describe perspectives and recommendations of mentee and mentor recipients of diversity supplements. Methods: Our working group, comprised of faculty from an Historically Black College and University and an R1 research university, conducted stakeholder interviews with three mentees and four mentors from various institutions. We used content analysis to derive categories of experiences and recommendations. Discussion: Interviewees reported on advantages of diversity supplements, ensuring institutional support, identifying a good mentee-mentor match, developing grantsmanship specific to diversity supplements, and increasing numbers of these applications. Conclusion: We identify opportunities for stakeholders to increase awareness of diversity supplements. Our data support greater understanding of this mechanism, establishing strong mentoring relationships, and submitting robust applications. Findings can enhance diversity among the scientific community.