Laura A. Szalacha

Dr. Laura A. Szalacha

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

16Years (2011-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 August 2011 in Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Usha MenonUsha Menon
Usha Menon
RBRhonda BeLue
Rhonda BeLue
SWStéphanie Wahab
Stéphanie Wahab
KRKathryn Rugen
Kathryn Rugen
AKAnita Y. Kinney
Anita Y. Kinney
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha
Background. Early-stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer is associated with high survival rates; screening prevalence, however, remains suboptimal.Purpos

30 September 2017 in BMC Women's Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha
THTonda L. Hughes
Tonda L. Hughes
Ruth McNairRuth McNair
Ruth McNair
DLDeborah J. Loxton
Deborah J. Loxton
We examined the relationships among experiences of interpersonal violence, mental health, and sexual identity in a national sample of young adult women in Australia. We used existing data from the third (2003) wave of young adult women (aged 25–30) in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). We conducted bivariate analyses and fit multiple and logistic regression models to test experiences of six types of interpersonal violence (physical abuse, severe physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, harassment, and being in a violent relationship), and the number of types of violence experienced, as predictors of mental health. We compared types and number of types of violence across sexual identity subgroups. Experiences of interpersonal violence varied significantly by sexual identity. Controlling for demographic characteristics, compared to exclusively heterosexual women, mainly heterosexual and bisexual women were significantly more likely to report physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Mainly heterosexual and lesbian women were more likely to report severe physical abuse. Mainly heterosexual women were more than three times as likely to have been in a violent relationship in the past three years, and all three sexual minority subgroups were two to three times as likely to have experienced harassment. Bisexual women reported significantly higher levels of depression than any of the other sexual identity groups and scored lower on mental health than did exclusively heterosexual women. In linear regression models, interpersonal violence strongly predicted poorer mental health for lesbian and bisexual women. Notably, mental health indicators were similar for exclusively heterosexual and sexual minority women who did not report interpersonal violence. Experiencing multiple types of interpersonal violence was the strongest predictor of stress, anxiety and depression. Interpersonal violence is a key contributor to mental health disparities, especially among women who identify as mainly heterosexual or bisexual. More research is needed that examines within-group differences to determine which subgroups are at greatest risk for various types of interpersonal violence. Such information is critical to the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies.

1 November 2024 in Age and Ageing
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
HLHeidi Lindroth
Heidi Lindroth
KLKEIBUN LIU
KEIBUN LIU
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha
SAShelly Ashkenazy
Shelly Ashkenazy
GBGiuseppe Bellelli
Giuseppe Bellelli
FTFor the WDAD Study Team
For the WDAD Study Team
Delirium, an acute brain dysfunction, is proposed to be highly prevalent in clinical care and shown to significantly increase the risk of mortality and dementia. To report on the global prevalence of clinically documented delirium and delirium-related clinical practices in wards caring for paediatric and adult patients in healthcare facilities. A prospective, cross-sectional, 39-question survey completed on World Delirium Awareness Day, 15 March 2023. Clinicians or researchers with access to clinical data. The primary outcome was the prevalence of clinically documented delirium at 8:00 a.m. (4 h) and 8:00 p.m. (±4 h). Secondary outcomes included delirium-related care practices and barriers to use. Descriptive statistics were calculated and multilevel modelling was completed. 1664 wards submitted surveys from 44 countries, reporting on delirium assessments at 8:00 a.m. (n = 36 048) and 8:00 p.m. (n = 32 867); 61% reported use of validated delirium assessment tools. At 8:00 a.m., 18% (n = 2788/15 458) and at 8:00 p.m., 17.7% (n = 2454/13 860) were delirium positive. Top prevention measures were pain management (86.7%), mobilisation (81.4%) and adequate fluids (80.4%). Frequently reported pharmacologic interventions were benzodiazepines (52.7%) and haloperidol (46.2%). Top barriers included the shortage of staff (54.3%), lack of time to educate staff (48.6%) and missing knowledge about delirium (38%). In this study, approximately one out of five patients were reported as delirious. The reported high use of benzodiazepines needs further evaluation as it is not aligned with best-practice recommendations. Findings provide a benchmark for future quality improvement projects and research.

1 June 2018 in Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SWShu Fen Wung
Shu Fen Wung
DMDaniel C Malone
Daniel C Malone
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha

1 January 2022 in Heart & Lung
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
ABAndrew Bugajski
Andrew Bugajski
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha
KRKaitlyn Rechenberg
Kaitlyn Rechenberg
AJAyesha Johnson
Ayesha Johnson
TBTheresa Beckie
Theresa Beckie
HMHailey Morgan
Hailey Morgan

27 January 2022 in American Journal of Health Promotion
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PHPatricia M. Herman
Patricia M. Herman
JBJulie Bucho-Gonzalez
Julie Bucho-Gonzalez
UMUsha Menon
Usha Menon
LSLaura A. Szalacha
Laura A. Szalacha
LLLinda Larkey
Linda Larkey
Purpose: Although screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) lowers mortality and morbidity and is generally cost-effective, little is known about the cost-effectiveness of screening promotion. Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a group-randomized trial. Setting: Multicultural, underinsured communities in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Subjects: English- or Spanish-speaking adults who were out of compliance for CRC screening guidelines. Intervention: All participants received community-based group education (GE), and the intervention group also received tailored community-to-clinic navigation (GE+TN). Measures: Number of participants screened and costs of tailored navigation, clinic visits, and CRC screening tests. Analysis: Incremental cost per additional person screened from the perspective of the healthcare system with bootstrapped confidence intervals. Results: Community sites were recruited and randomized to GE (n = 120) and GE + TN (n = 119). Across these sites 1154 individuals were screened, 504 were eligible, and 345 attended the group education class (n = 134 GE; n = 211 GE + TN). Screening rates (26.5% GE + TN; 10.4% GE; 16.1% increase 95% CI: 7%, 23%) and costs per participant ($271 GE + TN; $167 GE; a net cost increase of $104 95% CI: $1, $189) were significantly higher in the intervention group. Incremental cost-effectiveness was $646 (95% CI: -$68, $953) per additional person screened. Conclusion: Depending on the value placed on an additional person screened, the addition of community-to-clinic tailored navigation to a community-based CRC screening promotion program may be highly cost-effective.