Kate Guastaferro

Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Associate Director of the Center for the Advancement and Dissemination of Intervention Optimization

Professional overview

Kate Guastaferro, PhD is an intervention scientist by training, her work is devoted to the development, optimization, implementation and evaluation of effective, efficient, affordable and scalable interventions with high public health impact. She is an expert in the multiphase optimization (MOST) strategy and her expertise is in parent-focused, multicomponent behavioral interventions to prevent child maltreatment. Dr. Guastaferro co-led a statewide trial focused on the coordinated implementation of three evidence-base child sexual abuse prevention programs; included in this trial was the parent-focused child sexual abuse program that she developed, piloted and evaluated. Her current work is focused on the integration of intervention optimization into the prevention of child maltreatment.

Prior to joining NYU, Dr. Guastaferro was an assistant research professor in human development and family studies at the Pennsylvania State University, and an affiliate of its Prevention Research Center and Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. In 2020, she was awarded the Victoria S. Levin Award for Early Career Success in Young Children’s Mental Health Research from the Society for Research in Child Development. She has been published in Child Maltreatment, Translational Behavioral Medicine, and the American Journal of Public Health.

Dr. Guastaferro received her PhD and MPH from Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, and her BA in anthropology from Boston University. She also completed a year of postdoctoral training at the Pennsylvania State University.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow, Prevention and Methodology Training Program (T32 DA017629), The Pennsylvania State University

PhD Public Health, Georgia State University

MPH Health Promotion, Georgia State University

BA Anthropology, Boston University

Honors and awards

Victoria S. Levin Award, Society for Research on Child Development (2020)

NIH Loan Repayment Program Award: Toward the Optimization of Behavioral Interventions to Prevent Child Maltreatment (201820192020)

Public Health Achievement Award, Georgia State University (2016)

Scarlet Key Honor Society, Boston University (2008)

Publications

Publications

Association Between Child Maltreatment and Substance Use Disorder Across Emerging Adulthood

Child Maltreatment Types by Age: Implications for Prevention

Firearm screening and secure storage counseling among home visiting providers: a cross-sectional study of SafeCare® providers in the U.S.

Osborne, M. C., Guastaferro, K., Banks, S., Vedantam, H., & Self-Brown, S. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Frontiers in Public Health

Volume

12

10.3389/fpubh.2024.1324656

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Firearms used in pediatric firearm deaths are most often obtained from the child’s home, making secure firearm storage initiatives imperative in prevention efforts. Evidence-based home visiting (EBHV) programs are implemented with over 277,000 families annually, providing an opportunity for secure firearm storage counseling. The purpose of this study was to assess EBHV providers’ experiences with firearm screening (“assessment”), secure storage counseling, and their perceptions for related training needs. Methods: Providers in the U.S. from SafeCare®, an EBHV program often implemented with families experiencing increased risk of child neglect and physical or emotional abuse, were invited to participate in a survey to examine firearm assessment and attitudes toward and experiences with firearm safety counseling. Survey items were primarily Likert scale ratings to indicate level of agreement, with some open-ended follow-up questions. Descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies and percentages) were used to report item-level agreement. A post hoc analysis was conducted using Spearman correlation to examine the association between assessment and counseling and provider-level factors. Results: Sixty-three SafeCare providers consented to and completed the survey items. Almost three-quarters (74.6%) agreed/strongly agreed that they assess in-home firearm availability. However, 66.7% agreed/strongly agreed that they have not been adequately trained to discuss firearm safety topics. A substantial proportion (80.6%) indicated they would counsel more if materials and training on this topic were available. Response variability emerged by level of urbanicity. A post hoc analysis found that providers’ self-reported frequency of assessment and counseling were associated with their comfort level discussing firearm safety and whether or not they had worked with families impacted by firearm injury. Conclusion: SafeCare providers report a need for materials and training on secure firearm storage, and a willingness to provide more counseling with proper training to the families they serve. Findings illuminate the need for secure storage initiatives for EBHV programs, which have broad service reach to a substantial number of at-risk U.S. families annually.

Piloting an Alternative Implementation Modality for a School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum

Recruiting and retaining first-year college students in online health research: Implementation considerations

StandUPTV: Preparation and optimization phases of a mHealth intervention to reduce sedentary screen time in adults

Keadle, S., Hasanaj, K., Leonard-Corzo, K., Tolas, A., Crosley-Lyons, R., Pfisterer, B., Legato, M., Fernandez, A., Lowell, E., Hollingshead, K., Yu, T. Y., Phelan, S., Phillips, S. M., Watson, N., Hagobian, T., Guastaferro, K., & Buman, M. P. (n.d.).

Publication year

2024

Journal title

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Volume

136

10.1016/j.cct.2023.107402

Abstract

Abstract

Recreational sedentary screen time (rSST) is the most prevalent sedentary behavior for adults outside of work, school, and sleep, and is strongly linked to poor health. StandUPTV is a mHealth trial that uses the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to develop and evaluate the efficacy of three theory-based strategies for reducing rSST among adults. This paper describes the preparation and optimization phases of StandUPTV within the MOST framework. We identified three candidate components based on previous literature: (a) rSST electronic lockout (LOCKOUT), which restricts rSST through electronic means; (b) adaptive prompts (TEXT), which provides adaptive prompts based on rSST behaviors; and (c) earning rSST through increased moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) participation (EARN). We also describe the mHealth iterative design process and the selection of an optimization objective. Finally, we describe the protocol of the optimization randomized controlled trial using a 23 factorial experimental design. We will enroll 240 individuals aged 23–64 y who engage in >3 h/day of rSST. All participants will receive a target to reduce rSST by 50% and be randomized to one of 8 combinations representing all components and component levels: LOCKOUT (yes vs. no), TEXT (yes vs. no), and EARN (yes vs. no). Results will support the selection of the components for the intervention package that meet the optimization objective and are acceptable to participants. The optimized intervention will be tested in a future evaluation randomized trial to examine reductions in rSST on health outcomes among adults.

Adapting prevention programs for virtual delivery: A case study in adapting a parent-focused child sexual abuse prevention module

Applying an Implementation Framework to the Dissemination of a School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program

Commentary: How Lay Health Workers in a Federally Qualified Community Health Center Filled a Critical Void in a Public Health Crisis

Decision support training for advanced cancer family caregivers: Study protocol for the CASCADE factorial trial

Gazaway, S., Wells, R. D., Azuero, A., Pisu, M., Guastaferro, K., Rini, C., Taylor, R., Reed, R. D., Harrell, E. R., Bechthold, A. C., Bratches, R. W., McKie, P., Lowers, J., Williams, G. R., Rosenberg, A. R., Bakitas, M. A., Kavalieratos, D., & Dionne-Odom, J. N. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Volume

131

10.1016/j.cct.2023.107259

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Patients with advanced cancer face numerous decisions when diagnosed and often receive decision support from family caregivers. The CASCADE (CAre Supporters Coached to be Adept DEcision partners) factorial trial intervention aims to train caregivers in skills to provide effective decision support to patients and identify most effective intervention components. Methods: This is a 2-site, single-blind, 24 factorial trial to test components of the CASCADE decision support training intervention for family caregivers of patients with newly-diagnosed advanced cancer delivered by specially-trained, telehealth, palliative care lay coaches over 24 weeks. Family caregivers (target N = 352) are randomly assigned to one of 16 combinations of four components with two levels each: 1) psychoeducation on effective decision partnering principles (1 vs. 3 sessions); 2) decision support communication training (1 session vs. none); 3) Ottawa Decision Guide training (1 session vs. none) and 4) monthly follow-up (1 call vs. calls for 24 weeks). The primary outcome is patient-reported decisional conflict at 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes include patient distress, healthcare utilization, caregiver distress, and quality of life. Mediators and moderators (e.g., sociodemographics, decision self-efficacy, social support) will be explored between intervention components and outcomes. Results will be used to build two versions of CASCADE: one with only effective components (d ≥ 0.30) and another optimized for scalability and cost. Discussion: This protocol describes the first factorial trial, informed by the multiphase optimization strategy, of a palliative care decision-support intervention for advanced cancer family caregivers and will address the field's need to identify effective components that support serious illness decision-making.

Guidance on selecting a translational framework for intervention development: Optimizing interventions for impact

Implementation of a Universal School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Knowledge Gains from the Implementation of a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program and the Future of School-Based Prevention Education

Multiphase optimization strategy: How to build more effective, affordable, scalable and efficient social and behavioural oral health interventions

Operationalizing Primary Outcomes to Achieve Reach, Effectiveness, and Equity in Multilevel Interventions

Parenting and Mental Health needs of Young, Maltreated parents: implications for Prevention of intergenerational child maltreatment

Preventive Education Outreach on Social Media: The Quest to Enroll Community Members in a Child Sexual Prevention Workshop

Provider Attitudes and Self-Efficacy When Delivering a Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Module: An Exploratory Study

Systematic braiding of Smoke-Free Home SafeCare to address child maltreatment risk and secondhand smoke exposure: findings from a pilot study

American Single Father Homes: A Growing Public Health Priority

An Early Palliative Care Telehealth Coaching Intervention to Enhance Advanced Cancer Family Caregivers’ Decision Support Skills: The CASCADE Pilot Factorial Trial

Parent-Focused Sexual Abuse Prevention: Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial

Taking a School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program to Scale: a Cost Analysis

The preparation phase in the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST): A systematic review and introduction of a reporting checklist

The Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Using SafeCare® to Highlight Successes and Needs for Improvement in Prevention Efforts