Maya Clark-Cutaia

Faculty

Maya Clark Cutaia Headshot

Maya Clark-Cutaia

MSN PhD RN

Assistant Professor

1 212 998 5280
Accepting PhD students

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

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

Kelly-Hellyer, E., Sigueza, A. L., Pestritto, M., & Clark-Cutaia, M. N. (2023). Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, 38(5), 763-767. 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. N., Cabacungan, A., Depasquale, N., Peskoe, S., & Boulware, L. E. (2023). JAMA Network Open, 6(2), 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.

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

Sandal, S., Ahn, J. Y. B., Chen, Y., Massie, A. B., Clark-Cutaia, M. N., Wu, W., Cantarovich, M., Segev, D. L., & McAdams-DeMarco, M. A. (2023). American Journal of Transplantation, 23(5), 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.

Content Validity Assessment of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire in CKD Using Qualitative Methods

Rivera, E., Levoy, K., Clark-Cutaia, M. N., Schrauben, S., Townsend, R. R., Rahman, M., Lash, J., Saunders, M., Frazier, R., Rincon-Choles, H., & Hirschman, K. B. (2022). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(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. N., Enwerem, N., Okunji, P. O., & Schulman-Green, D. (2022). Nursing Outlook, 70(6), 856-865. 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.

Editorial: New perspectives on estimated glomerular filtration rate and health equity

Clark-Cutaia, M. N., & Goldfarb, D. S. (2022). Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, 31(2), 157-159. 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000774

Exploring the Evidence: Symptom Burden in Chronic Kidney Disease

Clark-Cutaia, M. N., Rivera, E., Iroegbu, C., Arneson, G., Deng, R., & Anastasi, J. K. (2022). Nephrology Nursing Journal : Journal of the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association, 49(3), 227-255.
Abstract
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more prevalent in individuals with obesity, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension. Individuals with CKD are prone to kidney failure, with symptom experiences that rival those of patients with cancer. We explored symptom burden in individuals with CKD via a systematic review of 30 quantitative and qualitative articles. The most common CKD symptoms were fatigue, weakness, pain, sleep disturbances and itchy skin. Instruments used to assess symptoms were the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL)-36, the Palliative Outcome Symptom-Scale renal (POS-r)-13, and the Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI)-10. The included qualitative studies expand and expound on the quantitative data presented. This article describes the prevalence of symptom burden in individuals with CKD in relation to psychosocial and demographic factors and discuss the importance of symptom management.

National institutes of health diversity supplements: Perspectives from administrative insiders

David, D., Weir, M. L., Enwerem, N., Schulman-Green, D., Okunji, P. O., Travers, J. L., & Clark-Cutaia, M. N. (2022). Nursing Outlook, 70(6), 827-836. 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.08.006
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The NIH Diversity Administrative Supplement is a funding mechanism that provides support for diverse early-stage researchers. There is limited guidance on how to apply for these awards. Purpose: We describe perspectives of NIH program/diversity officers and university research administrators offering recommendations for diversity supplement submission. Methods: This article is the product of a working group exploring diversity in research. Nursing faculty from an R2 Historically Black College and University and an R1 research intensive university conducted stakeholder interviews with NIH program/diversity officers and university research administrators. We used content analysis to categorize respondents’ recommendations. Findings: Recommendations centered on harmonizing the applicant with the program announcement, communication with program/diversity officers, mentor/mentee relationship, scientific plan, and systematic institutional approaches to the diversity supplement. Discussion: Successful strategies in submitting diversity supplements will facilitate inclusion of diverse researchers in NIH-sponsored programs. Systematic approaches are needed to support development of diverse voices to enhance the scientific community.

Treatment Adherence in CKD and Support From Health care Providers: A Qualitative Study

Rivera, E., Clark-Cutaia, M. N., Schrauben, S. J., Townsend, R. R., Lash, J. P., Hannan, M., Jaar, B. G., Rincon-Choles, H., Kansal, S., He, J., Chen, J., & Hirschman, K. B. (2022). Kidney Medicine, 4(11). 10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100545
Abstract
Abstract
Rationale & Objective: Adherence to recommended medical treatment is critical in chronic kidney disease (CKD) to prevent complications and progression to kidney failure. Overall adherence to treatment is low in CKD, and as few as 40% of patients with kidney failure receive any documented CKD-related care. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with CKD and their adherence to CKD treatment plans, and the role their health care providers played in supporting their adherence. Study Design: One-on-one interviews were conducted in 2019-2020 using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants described experiences with adherence to treatment plans and what they did when experiencing difficulty. Setting & Participants: Participants were recruited from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. All CRIC participants were older than 21 years with CKD stages 2-4; this sample consisted of participants from the University of Pennsylvania CRIC site. Analytical Approach: Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using conventional content analysis. Data were organized into themes using NVivo 12. Results: The sample (n = 32) had a mean age of 67 years, 53% were women, 59% were non-White, with a mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 56.6 mL/min/1.73 m2. From analysis of factors relevant to treatment planning and adherence, following 4 major themes emerged: patient factors (multiple chronic conditions, motivation, outlook), provider factors (attentiveness, availability/accessibility, communication), treatment planning factors (lack of plan, proactive research, provider-focused treatment goals, and shared decision making), and treatment plan responses (disagreeing with treatment, perceived capability deficit, lack of information, and positive feedback). Limitations: The sample was drawn from the CRIC study, which may not be representative of the general population with CKD. Conclusions: These themes align with Behavioral Learning Theory, which includes concepts of internal antecedents (patient factors), external antecedents (provider factors), behavior (treatment planning factors), and consequences (treatment plan responses). In particular, the treatment plan responses point to innovative potential intervention approaches to support treatment adherence in CKD.

“Should I stay or should I go?” Nurses' perspectives about working during the Covid-19 pandemic's first wave in the United States: A summative content analysis combined with topic modeling

Squires, A., Clark-Cutaia, M., Henderson, M. D., Arneson, G., & Resnik, P. (2022). International Journal of Nursing Studies, 131. 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104256
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had its first peak in the United States between April and July of 2020, with incidence and prevalence rates of the virus the greatest in the northeastern coast of the country. At the time of study implementation, there were few studies capturing the perspectives of nurses working the frontlines of the pandemic in any setting as research output in the United States focused largely on treating the disease. Objective: The purpose of this study was to capture the perspectives of nurses in the United States working the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave. We were specifically interested in examining the impact of the pandemic on nurses' roles, professional relationships, and the organizational cultures of their employers. Design: We conducted an online qualitative study with a pragmatic design to capture the perspectives of nurses working during the first wave of the United States COVID-19 pandemic. Through social networking recruitment, frontline nurses from across the country were invited to participate. Participants provided long form, text-based responses to four questions designed to capture their experiences. A combination of Latent Dirichlet Allocation–a natural language processing technique–along with traditional summative content analysis techniques were used to analyze the data. Setting: The United States during the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave between May and July of 2020. Results: A total of 318 nurses participated from 29 out of 50 states, with 242 fully completing all questions. Findings suggested that the place of work mattered significantly in terms of the frontline working experience. It influenced role changes, risk assumption, interprofessional teamwork experiences, and ultimately, likelihood to leave their jobs or the profession altogether. Organizational culture and its influence on pandemic response implementation was a critical feature of their experiences. Conclusions: Findings suggest that organizational performance during the pandemic may be reflected in nursing workforce retention as the risk for workforce attrition appears high. It was also clear from the reports that nurses appear to have assumed higher occupational risks during the pandemic when compared to other providers. The 2020 data from this study also offered a number of signals about potential threats to the stability and sustainability of the US nursing workforce that are now manifesting. The findings underscore the importance of conducting health workforce research during a crisis in order to discern the signals of future problems or for long-term crisis response. Tweetable abstract: @US nurses report assuming higher risks when delivering care than other healthcare personnel. @Healthcare leaders made the difference for nurses during the pandemic. How many nurses leave their employer in the next year will tell you who was good, who wasn't. @It was all about the team. Organizations with nurses' reporting effective interprofessional teamwork had a more resilient pandemic workforce.