Biomedical subjects

Ann Malecha

Publications and source records attributed to Ann Malecha.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Testing therapeutic life review offered by home care workers to decrease depression among home-dwelling older women.

The purpose of the study was to test a psychosocial intervention, therapeutic life review, offered by home care workers to decrease depression among home-dwelling older women. A quasi-experimental, one-group time-series design measured the effect of a once-a-week, 40-minute therapeutic life review intervention, delivered for six weeks by home care workers, on the depression scores of women 65 years and older, compared to their scores during the ten weeks prior to the intervention. Over time, depression scores improved with a significant decrease in depression immediately following the six-week intervention. Based on these findings, we concluded that home care workers can deliver a community-based psychosocial intervention that decreases depression in their home-dwelling clients.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Intimate partner sexual assault against women and associated victim substance use, suicidality, and risk factors for femicide.

In order to establish the frequency of substance use, following and attributed to sexual assault, and describe the danger for femicide and suicidality for women physically and sexually abused compared to physically-abused only women, a personal interview of 148 African-American, Hispanic, and white English and Spanish-speaking abused women was completed. Women who reported more than one sexual assault were 3.5 (95% CI, 0.9, 13.4) times more likely to report beginning or increasing substance use compared to women who reported only one sexual assault. Sexually assaulted women reported significantly (p=.002) more risk factors for femicide compared to physically- abused only women. Specific to suicide, women reporting sexual assault were 5.3 (95% CI, 1.3, 21.5) times more likely to report threatening or attempted suicide within a 90-day period compared to physically-abused only women. The health assessment and intervention of intimate partner violence must extend beyond injury to include behavior risk sequelae of substance abuse and suicidality.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Intimate partner sexual assault against women: frequency, health consequences, and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and consequences of sexual assault within intimate relationships specific to racial or ethnic group, compare the findings to a similar group of physically assaulted-only women, and measure the risk of reassault after victim contact with justice and health services. METHODS: A personal interview survey of 148 African-American, Hispanic, and white English- and Spanish-speaking abused women seeking a protection order. Extent of sexual assault, prevalence of rape-related sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and risk of reassault after treatment were measured. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the physically abused women reported sexual assault. Fifteen percent of the women attributed 1 or more sexually-transmitted diseases to sexual assault, and 20% of the women experienced a rape-related pregnancy. Sexually assaulted women reported significantly (P = .02) more PTSD symptoms compared with nonsexually assaulted women. One significant (P = .003) difference occurred between ethnic groups and PTSD scores. Regardless of sexual assault or no assault, Hispanic women reported significantly higher mean PTSD scores compared with African-American women (P = .005) and White women (P = .012). The risk of sexual reassault was decreased by 59% and 70% for women who contacted the police, or applied for a protection order, after the first sexual assault. Receiving medical care decreased the woman's risk of further sexual assault by 32%. CONCLUSION: Sexual assault is experienced by most physically abused women and associated with significantly higher levels of PTSD compared with women physically abused only. The risk of reassault is decreased if contact is made with health or justice agencies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Increasing the safety-promoting behaviors of abused women.

OVERVIEW: Despite an epidemic of intimate-partner violence against women, and general agreement that women should be screened for it, few assessment and intervention protocols have been evaluated in controlled studies. To test a telephone intervention intended to increase the "safety-promoting behavior" of abused women, 75 women received six telephone calls over a period of eight weeks in which safety-promoting behaviors were discussed. A control group of 75 women received usual care. Women in both groups received follow-up calls to assess safety-promoting behaviors at three, six, 12, and 18 months after intake. Analysis showed that the women in the intervention group practiced significantly (P < 0.01) more safety-promoting behaviors than women in the control group at each assessment. On average, women in the intervention group practiced almost two more safety-promoting behaviors than they had at time of intake and nearly two more than women in the control group; the additional behaviors were practiced for 18 months. This nursing intervention requires only 54 minutes to complete (six nine-minute telephone calls) and can be integrated into any health care setting. Because less than one hour of professional nursing time is involved, the cost of the intervention is minimal. Future research should determine whether the adoption of safety-promoting behaviors by abused women averts trauma and its subsequent health care costs.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Protection orders and intimate partner violence: an 18-month study of 150 black, Hispanic, and white women.

OBJECTIVES: We compared types and frequencies of intimate partner violence experienced by women before and after receipt of a 2-year protection order. METHODS: Participants were 150 urban English- and Spanish-speaking Black, Hispanic, and White women who qualified for a 2-year protection order against an intimate partner. RESULTS: One woman committed suicide 6 weeks into the study. The remaining 149 women completed all interviews. Results showed significant reductions in threats of assault, physical assault, stalking, and worksite harassment over time among all women, regardless of receipt or nonreceipt of a protection order. CONCLUSIONS: Abused women who apply and qualify for a 2-year protection order, irrespective of whether or not they are granted the order, report significantly lower levels of violence during the subsequent 18 months.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Screening for and treating intimate partner violence in the workplace.

The WHO has declared that violence is a leading worldwide public health problem with intimate partner violence one of the most common forms of violence against women (2002). Health care providers are frequently among the first to see victims of intimate partner violence and must strive to provide appropriate and effective care to abused women. Violence by intimate partners can be prevented. Occupational health nurses have a unique opportunity to intervene with abused women. Routine screening for intimate partner violence increases the likelihood of violence identification, leading to early intervention that may prevent trauma and injury. Occupational health nurses can foster a caring and confidential workplace where abused women feel safe to disclose the violence in their lives and trust that the nurse will provide treatment. A safe and healthy workplace, where abused women feel comfortable disclosing intimate partner violence and seeking treatment may also protect coworkers from the stress and violence that may potentially affect them. Occupational health nurses need to add screening for and treatment of intimate partner violence to their current health promotion and prevention activities to benefit all employees.

Community Networks↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An intervention to increase safety behaviors of abused women: results of a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Although intimate partner violence is recognized as a major threat to women's health, few interventions have been developed or tested. OBJECTIVE: To test an intervention administered to abused women in order to increase safety-seeking behaviors. METHOD: A two-group clinical trial randomized 75 abused women to receive six telephone intervention sessions on safety behaviors. A control group of 75 women received standard care. Women in both groups were re-interviewed at 3 months and 6 months post-initial measurement. RESULTS: Using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), we found significantly [F (2,146) 5.11, =.007] more adopted safety behaviors reported by women in the intervention group than by women in the control group at both the 3-month [F (91,74) = 19.70, <.001] and 6-month [F (1,74) = 15.90, <.001] interviews. The effect size (ES) of the intervention was large at 3 months (ES = 1.5) and remained substantial at 6 months (ES = 0.56). DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate that an intervention to increase safety behaviors of abused women is highly effective when offered following an abusive incident and remains effective for 6 months.

Adult↗