bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Long-term Obesity on the Health Status of Samoan and Tongan Men in the United States: Results from the Pacific Islander Health Study
Authors: Panapasa, PhD Sela V. , McNally, PhD James W. , Heeringa, PhD Steven G. , Williams, PhD, MPH David R.
Published: November 2015

Objective: To examine the impacts of long-standing obesity (BMIs ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) on health outcomes among Samoan and Tongan men (aged ≥ 18 years) in California using a life course perspective.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of 103 males from the Pacific Islander Health Study (PIHS), a probability sample modeled after the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Setting: Urban residential neighborhoods in San Mateo and Los Angeles counties using a multistage, cluster sample design.

Main Outcome Measures: BMI, diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol, smoking, drinking, arthritis, gout and migraines.

Results: Bivariate analysis shows high rates of poor health outcomes distributed throughout the obese and non-obese sam­ple. Logistic analysis finds that being obese does not significantly increase observed negative health outcomes. After controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, the presence of obesity results in non-significant findings for hypertension (OR=1.02; CI: .21, 4.91), and high cholesterol (OR=.52; CI: .10, 2.73), while obesity significantly reduces the risk of diabetes by 60% (OR=.40; CI: .14, 1.17). When applying disease counts, obese men have a signifi­cantly lower risk of reporting multiple health conditions (OR=.72; CI: .52, 1.00).

Conclusion: Overall, the health of Samoan and Tongan males in California is uniformly poor and obesity alone does not significant­ly increase risks of poor health outcomes. Using a life course perspective, the analysis offers new insights on the basic health of this understudied population. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(3):279-286.
Racial Composition Over the Lifecourse: Examining Separate and Unequal Environments and the Risk for Heart Disease for African American Men
Authors: Gilbert, DrPH Keon L. , Elder, PhD Keith , Lyons, MS Sarah , Kaphingst, ScD Kimberly A. , Blanchard, MD Melvin , Goodman, PhD Melody S.
Published: November 2015

Purpose: Studies have demonstrated the effects of segregated social and physi­cal environments on the development of chronic diseases for African Americans. Studies have not delineated the effects of segregated environments specifically on the health of African American men over their lifetime. This study examines the relation­ship between life course measures of racial composition of social environments and diagnosis of hypertension among African American men.
Design: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a convenience sample of African American men seeking health care services in an outpatient primary care clinic serving a medically underserved patient population (N=118). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between racial composition of multiple environments across the life course (eg, junior high school, high school, neighbor­hood growing up, current neighborhood, place of employment, place of worship) and hypertension diagnosis.

Results: The majority (86%) of participants were not currently in the workforce (retired, unemployed, or disabled) and more than half (54%) reported an annual household income of <$9,999; median age was 53. Results suggest that African American men who grew up in mostly Black neighbor­hoods (OR=4.3; P=.008), and worked in mostly Black environments (OR=3.1; P=.041) were more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension than those who did not.

Conclusion: We found associations between mostly Black residential and work­place settings and hypertension diagnoses among African American men. Findings sug­gest exposure to segregated environments during childhood and later adulthood may impact hypertension risk among African American men over the life course. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(3):295-304.
The FAITH Trial: Baseline Characteristics of a Church-based Trial to Improve Blood Pressure Control in Blacks
Authors: Schoenthaler, EdD Antoinette , Lancaster, PhD Kristie , Midberry, MPH Sara , Nulty, MPH Matthew , Ige, BS Elizabeth , Palfrey, PhD Amy , Kumar, PhD Niketa , Ogedegbe, MD Gbenga
Published: November 2015

Objective: To describe the baseline char­acteristics of participants in the Faith-based Approaches in the Treatment of Hyperten­sion (FAITH) Trial.
Design: FAITH evaluates the effectiveness of a faith-based lifestyle intervention vs health education control on blood pressure (BP) reduction among hypertensive Black adults.

Setting, Participants, and Main Measures: Participants included 373 members of 32 Black churches in New York City. Baseline data collected included participant demo­graphic characteristics, clinical measures (eg, blood pressure), behaviors (eg, diet, physical activity), and psychosocial factors (eg, self-efficacy, depressive symptoms).

Results: Participants had a mean age of 63.4 ± 11.9 years and 76% were female. About half completed at least some college (53%), 66% had an income ≥$20,000, and 42.2% were retired or on disability. Partici­pants had a mean systolic and diastolic BP of 152.1 ± 16.8 mm Hg and 86.2 ± 12.2 mm Hg, respectively, and a mean BMI of 32 kg/m2. Hypertension (HTN) medications were taken by 95% of participants, but most (79.1%) reported non-adherence to their regimen. Participants reported consuming 3.4 ± 2.6 servings of fruits and vegetables and received 30.9% of their energy from fat. About one-third (35.9%) reported a low activity level.

Conclusion: Participants in the FAITH trial exhibited several adverse clinical and behavioral characteristics at baseline. Future analyses will evaluate the effective­ness of the faith-based lifestyle intervention on changes in BP and lifestyle behaviors among hypertensive Black adults. Ethn Dis. 2015;25[3]:337-344.
Case Study of an Unsustainable Community-Academic Partnership: Toward Core Standards for the Structure of Emerging Participatory Research
Authors: Calderon, MD Jose L. , Norris, MD, PhD Keith C. , Hardigan, PhD Patrick C. , Calderon, BS Lorrin A. , Hays, PhD Ron D.
Published: November 2015

This report retrospectively examines the structure of an emerging community-academic participatory research (PR) partnership that was not sustainable, despite attempts to adhere to PR principles and demonstrable success in research outcomes. The influence of community and academic parent organizations on the PR process and outcomes is presented in the context of the Donabedian Model. We dissected the structural elements contrib­uted by parent organizations to forming the structure of the PR partnership (memo­randum of understanding, policy environ­ment, human resources and effort, com­munity and academic resources, expertise and experience, and funding) and explored the influence of potential and actual con­flicts on the PR partnership’s sustainability. The effect of potential and actual conflict on the PR process and quality of PR outcomes is discussed. Based on this, we conclude by proposing seven core standards for the establishment and development of emerging community-academic PR partnerships. Ethn Dis. 2015;(3):363-372.
Cardiometabolic Health in African Immigrants to the United States: A Call to Re-examine Research on African-descent Populations
Authors: Commodore-Mensah, PhD, RN Yvonne , Dennison Himmelfarb, PhD, ANP, RN Cheryl , Agyemang, PhD, MPH Charles , Sumner, MD Anne E.
Published: November 2015

 

 In the 20th century, Africans in Sub-Saharan Africa had lower rates of cardiometabolic disease than Africans who migrated. How­ever, in the 21st century, beyond infectious diseases, the triple epidemics of obesity, diabetes and hypertension have taken hold in Africa. Therefore, Africans are acquiring these chronic diseases at different rates and different intensity prior to migration. To ensure optimal care and health outcomes, the United States practice of grouping all African-descent populations into the “Black/ African American” category without regard to country of origin masks socioeconomic and cultural differences and needs re-evalu­ation. Overall, research on African-descent populations would benefit from a shift from a racial to an ethnic perspective. To dem­onstrate the value of disaggregating data on African-descent populations, the epide­miologic transition, social, economic, and health characteristics of African immigrants are presented. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(3):373- 380.
Neighborhood Social Predictors of Weight-related Measures in Underserved African-Americans in the PATH Trial
Authors: McDaniel Tyler , Wilson Dawn K. , Coulon Sandra M. , Hand Gregory A. , Siceloff E. Rebekah
Published: November 2015

 

African Americans have the highest rate of obesity in the United States relative to other ethnic minority groups. Bioecologi­cal factors including neighborhood social and physical environmental variables may be important predictors of weight-related measures specifically body mass index (BMI) in African American adults. Baseline data from the Positive Action for Today’s Health (PATH) trial were collected from 417 African American adults. Overall a multiple regression model for BMI was significant, showing positive associations with average daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (B =-.21, P<.01) and neighbor­hood social interaction (B =-.13, P<.01). Consistent with previous literature, results show that neighborhood social interac­tion was associated with healthier BMI, highlighting it as a potential critical factor for future interventions in underserved, African American communities. Ethn Dis. 2015; 25(4):405-412; doi:10.18865/ed.25.4.405
Prenatal Cocaine Exposure and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors in 18 to 20 Year Old African Americans
Authors: Messiah Sarah E. , Ludwig David A. , Vidot Denise C. , Accornero Veronica H. , Lipshultz Steven E. , Miller Tracie L. , Xue Lihua , Bandstra Emmalee S.
Published: November 2015

Objective: The long-term effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on physical health are largely unknown. No human studies support or refute a relationship between PCE and the long-term risk for cardiovascu­lar and/or metabolic disease. We investi­gated the association of PCE on primary car­diometabolic disease risk factors in African Americans (AA) aged 18 to 20 years.

Design: Cohort, longitudinal, prospective.

Setting: Miami-Dade County, Florida, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Participants: Healthy full-term inner-city AA adolescents (aged 18 to 20 years, N=350) previously enrolled at birth from 1990-1993.

Main Outcome Measures: Fasting serum insulin, glucose, lipids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; systolic and diastolic blood pressures; and the components and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

Results: There were no PCE-associated differences in cardiometabolic disease risk factors including the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in AAs aged 18 to 20 years.

Conclusions: The results of our study do not support an association between PCE and increased cardiometabolic disease risk in AAs aged 18 to 20 years. Whether PCE is associated with cardiovascular or metabolic disease in adulthood would require further investigation. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(4):419- 426; doi:10.18865/ed.25.4.419
Pilot Study: Survey Tools for Assessing Parenting Styles and Family Contributors to the Development of Obesity in Arab Children Ages 6 – 12 Years Old
Authors: Tami Suzan H. , Reed Debra B. , Trejos Elizabeth , Boylan Mallory , Wang Shu
Published: November 2015

Objectives: Our pilot study was conducted to test the reliability of the Caregiver’s Feeding Styles Questionnaire (CFSQ) and the Family Nutrition and Physical Activ­ity Assessment (FNPA) in a sample of Arab mothers.

Design: Twenty-five Arab mothers com­pleted the CFSQ, FNPA, and the Participant Background Survey for the first administra­tion. After 1-2 weeks, participants complet­ed the CFSQ and the FNPA for the second administration. The two administrations of the surveys allowed for test/retest reliability of the CFSQ and the FNPA and to measure the internal consistency of the two surveys.

Results: Pearson’s correlation between the first and second administrations or the 19- item scale (demandingness) and the 7-item scale (responsiveness) of the CFSQ were .95 and .86, respectively. As for the FNPA, Pearson’s correlation was .80. The estimated reliabilities (Cronbach’s alpha) of the CFSQ increased from .86 for the first administra­tion to .93 for the second administration. However, the estimated reliabilities of the FNPA slightly increased from .58 for first administration to .59 for the second admin­istration.

Conclusion: In our pilot study of Arab mothers, the CFSQ and FNPA were shown to be promising in terms of reliability and content validity. Ethn Dis.2015;25(4):463- 468; doi:10.18865/ed.25.4.463
Adaptation of the Psychological-Behavioral Acculturation Scale to a Community of Urban-based Mexican Americans in the United States
Authors: Maupome Gerardo , Marino Rodrigo , Aguirre-Zero Odette M. , Ohmit Anita , Dai Sigi
Published: November 2015

Objective: To report the psychometric properties of the Psychological-Behavioral Acculturation Scale (P-BAS), a tool gauging behavioral and psychological acculturation after adapting it through formative research to people of Mexican origin in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed data from adapted P-BAS questionnaires in the TalaSurvey study, using standard methods to establish internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha), construct validity, and ascertain if the value orientation profile differed by ethnic group.

Results: In 2012-13, 505 respondents (mean age 45.2 ±14.1, 56% female) partici­pated: 250 European Americans (EA) and 255 people of Mexican origin (MA).

Conclusions: Although internal consisten­cies of 15 value orientation measures were occasionally low, overall results were en­couraging. A weighted combination of value orientation scores strongly discriminated between EA and MA. Additionally, the pat­tern of relationships among MAs identified between acculturation scores and the valid­ity contrasts supported the construct validity of the proposed dual framework. The trend was particularly evident for most behavioral variables. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(4):469-478; doi:10.18865/ed.25.4.469
Prevention, Detection and Management of Coronary Artery Disease in Minority Females
Authors: Bullock-Palmer Renee Patrice
Published: November 2015

Background and Significance: Heart dis­ease is the leading cause of death for wom­en living in the United States; this disease claims more female lives than all cancers combined. Additionally, according to the Centers of Disease Control data between the years 1979 and 2006, while cardiac-related mortality among men decreased significantly, only a modest decline was found among women. This disparity is great­est among minority females including Blacks and Hispanics who have an even greater prevalence of CVD and its risk factors

Prevention: There are several risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Modifi­able risk factors include: tobacco smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity and physical inactivity. The preven­tion of CAD is grounded in decreasing or removing these modifiable risk factors.

Detection: Accurately diagnosing CAD is dependent on an accurate assessment of the patient’s pre-test probability to determine the best diagnostic approach to pursue. The patient’s functional status, resting EKG and cardiac risk factors also assist in determining the best non-invasive cardiac test to pursue.

Management: The goals and mainstay in the management of minority females with stable CAD includes surveillance for CAD symptoms, management of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia, as well as encouraging healthy habits.

Conclusion: Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in minority females. Providers must be diligent to aggressively decrease patients’ cardiovascular risk and, when patients do present with cardiovascu­lar symptoms, providers must be aggressive in accurately diagnosing and treating these patients to decrease cardiac morbidity and mortality. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(4):499-506; doi:10.18865/ed.25.4.499
Holistic Healthcare for Medically Uninsured: The Church Health Center of Memphis
Authors: Morris G. Scott
Published: November 2015

The Church Health Center (CHC) in Memphis was founded in 1987 to provide quality, affordable health care for working, uninsured people and their families. With numerous, dedicated financial support­ers and health care volunteers, CHC has become the largest faith-based health care organization of its type nationally, serving >61,000 patients. CHC embraces a holistic approach to health by promoting wellness in every dimension of life. It offers on-site services including medical care, dentistry, optometry, counseling, social work, and nutrition and fitness education, to promote wellness in every dimension of life. A 2012 economic analysis estimated that a $1 contribution to the CHC provided roughly $8 in health services. The CHC has trained >1200 Congregational Health Promoters to be health leaders and is conducting research on the effectiveness of faith community nurses partnering with congregations to assist in home care for patients recently discharged from Memphis hospitals. The MEMPHIS Plan, CHC’s employer-sponsored health care plan for small business and the self-employed, offers uninsured people in lower-wage jobs access to quality, afford­able health care. The CHC also conducts replications workshops several times a year to share their model with leaders in other communities. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) recently completed a case study that concluded: “The CHC is one of a very few organizations successfully embodying all three components of the IHI Triple Aim by improving population health outcomes, enhancing the individual’s health care experience, and controlling costs. All three have been part of the Center’s DNA since its inception, and as a transform­ing force in the community, the model is well worth national attention.” Ethn Dis.2015;25(4):507-510; doi:10.18865/ ed.25.4.507
Social and Medical Determinants of Cardiometabolic Health: The Big Picture
Authors: Puckrein Gary A. , Egan Brent M.
Published: November 2015

Cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, account for >12 million years of life lost annually among Black adults in the United States. Health disparities are geographically localized, with ~80% of health disparities occurring within ~6000 (16%) of all 38,000 US ZIP codes. Socio-economic status (SES), behavioral and environmental fac­tors (social determinants) account for ~80% of variance in health outcomes and cluster geographically. Neighborhood SES is inversely associated with prevalent diabetes and hyper­tension, and Blacks are four times more likely than Whites to live in lowest SES neighbor­hoods. In ZIP code 48235 (Detroit, 97% Black, 16.2% unemployed, income/capita $18,343, 23.6% poverty), 1082 Medicare fee-for service (FFS) beneficiaries received care for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in 2012. Collectively, these beneficiaries had 1082 inpatient admissions and 839 emergency department visits, mean cost $27,759/beneficiary and mortality 2.7%. Nationally in 2011, 236,222 Black Medicare FFS beneficiaries had 213,715 inpatient admissions, 191,346 emergency department visits, mean cost $25,580/beneficiary and 2.4% mortality. In addition to more prevalent hypertension and T2D, Blacks appear more susceptible to clinical complications of risk fac­tors than Whites, including hypertension as a contributor to stroke. Cardiometabolic health equity in African Americans requires interven­tions on social determinants to reduce excess risk prevalence of risk factors. Social-medical interventions to promote timely access to, delivery of and adherence with evidence-based medicine are needed to counterbal­ance greater disease susceptibility. Place-based interventions on social and medical determi­nants of health could reduce the burden of life lost to cardiometabolic diseases in Blacks. Ethn Dis. 2015;25(4):521-524; doi:10.18865/ ed.25.4.521
The Promise of Integrative Nursing
Authors: Koithan Mary
Published: November 2015

The U.S. health care system requires transformative changes that reduce risk and improve overall well-being while increasing access, quality, safety, and affordability. Integrative nursing can serve as a road map to care that is culturally safe, personalized, and meaningful. Using exemplar case studies, we explore both opportunities and challenges to care that advances the health and well-being of persons, families, and communities through caring/healing relationships.
Back to Work: Manager Support of Nurses with Chronic Sorrow
Authors: Marcella-Brienza Susan , Mennillo Tina
Published: November 2015

Death: No one likes to think about it, never mind talk about it. The purpose of this article is to show the importance of the role of the nurse manager in supporting nurses who are returning to the bedside after a significant loss. Significant personal loss may lead to a phenomenon called chronic sorrow. Bereaved nurses with chronic sorrow experience grief-related feelings as a result of caring for patients who are suffering and dying. Qualified nurses may leave bedside nursing for nonclinical roles, or leave the profession altogether, because of constant exposure to this stress. It is critical that nursing management is perceptive to the particular needs of bereaved nurses to best reintegrate them into their nursing positions.
Having Heart
Authors: Cochrane Christine
Published: November 2015

A heart comes in many forms. This article shares the experience of behavioral health nurses caring for a suicidal patient who needs a heart. As a team, the nurses and their patient shared the journey of what it takes to achieve an optimum quality of life with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) while battling mental illness.
Food First: Nutrition as the Foundation for Health
Authors: Sandquist Laura
Published: November 2015

The principles of integrative nursing advocate that food be considered as a primary intervention for health promotion, risk reduction, and generally improved well-being. Food provides information to the body, signaling basic biological functions and normalizing physiological processes. Health care professionals should query patients about their nutritional intake, recognizing that adjustments in the types of foods consumed can often address long-standing symptoms that create distress, including pain, fatigue, anxiety, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. A Food First approach to care offers a novel approach that champions whole person/whole systems emergent health and well-being.
It Was Not on My Christmas List
Authors: Endress Nancy
Published: November 2015

A nurse with newly diagnosed cancer presents her stream-of-consciousness impressions of this event, its meaning for her life, and the ways in which the gift of kindness makes a difference.
From High Touch to High Tech: A Conversation with Maureen O'Hara, BSN, RN, OCN
Authors: O'Hara Maureen , de Ruiter Hans-Peter
Published: November 2015

An oncology nurse talks about her 42-year career at Stanford Medical Center. The technological and pharmacological advances she has seen in that time have changed the face of oncology nursing practice and transformed many previously fatal cancers into curable diseases or chronic illnesses compatible with well-being. The increasing complexity of care requires multidisciplinary collaboration and brings with it new ethical dilemmas. She cautions nurses to make the best use of technology without losing their critical thinking skills, basic assessment skills, and common sense.
A New Threat to the Nursing Workforce: Take a Stand!
Authors: Koehne Kathryn
Published: November 2015

The consequences of a sedentary lifestyle have been extensively studied, and the findings have been broadly reported in scientific journals as well as all forms of media. The development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, venous thromboembolism, and extensive musculoskeletal strain can all result from prolonged immobility and repetitive computer use. Health care workers in the ambulatory setting are impacted by immobility because of the nature of their work. A workstation wellness intervention involved evidence-based activities for employees who have limited physical activity in the course of a workday, with the goal of promoting health. The participants engaged in a 4-week program of intermittent stretching, drinking water, and standing or walking during their workday. Participants reported a statistically significant increase in knowledge about workstation ergonomics (p = .0034) and the impact of prolonged sitting. There was also a statistically significant increase in the number of participants who became more aware about the number of times they stand up/walk and stretch at their workstation. Participants reported that the new bundle of activities was sustainable. This workstation wellness intervention is an inexpensive and simple self-directed wellness program that can increase knowledge, change behavior, and improve health perception among employees who work in sedentary jobs.
Dance Lessons
Authors: Hahn Emily
Published: November 2015

Nursing has been described as an art and a science. The scientific aspect of nursing can be learned in nursing school and in years of practice. However, the art of nursing is enriched by each nurse's connection with life experiences. The purpose of this article is to highlight my particular life experience with dance and to show how studying dance has helped me become the strong nursing leader I am today.
Nursing and Daoism: Wading in the River of Practice
Authors: Chung Stephanie , Fitzsimons Virginia
Published: November 2015

The study of philosophy has shaped and continues to shape thinking in many disciplines. One may not initially associate philosophy with a grounding idea in the nursing profession; however, its ideas fit the contour of the discipline and foster critical thinking. The philosophical nurse examines his or her practice in depth to understand human processes and deepen thinking through the teachings of philosophy. The following discussion is an overview of Daoism (the “Way”) and its main ideas; these ideas will then be applied to nursing practice and human response to illness. The analogy of a flowing river helps to enrich and enlighten our understanding of Daoist teachings. The practitioner cannot fight the flow of a river, just as the practitioner cannot prevent illness from occurring in one's existence. We can only supply the interventions to encourage equilibrium and maintain harmony. There will be obstacles; however, the practitioner who realizes that these obstacles are part of the “Way” will find understanding and a deeper knowledge base in caring for patients.
Living with Chronic Pain
Authors: Ingle Barby
Published: November 2015

A health educator who has reflex sympathetic dystrophy, an autoimmune condition involving chronic pain, shares her knowledge about living life to the fullest while dealing with a chronic health condition. Her advice encompasses dealing with the health care system, managing information, and obtaining physical and emotional self-care.
EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a Technological Disaster Context
Authors: Jarero Ignacio , Uribe Susana , Artigas Lucina , Givaudan Martha
Published: November 2015

This research evaluated the effectiveness of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI) in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms related to the explosion in an explosives manufacturing factory north of Mexico City that killed 7 employees. The EMDR-PRECI was administered on 2 consecutive days to 25 survivors who had posttraumatic stress symptoms related to the critical incident. Participants’ mean score on the Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT) was 22, well above the clinical cutoff of 14. They were randomly assigned to immediate and waitlist/delayed treatment conditions and therapy was provided within 15 days of the explosion. Results showed significant main effects for the condition factor, F(1, 80) = 67.04, p < .000. SPRINT scores were significantly different across time showing the effects of the EMDR therapy through time, F(3, 80) = 150.69, p < .000. There was also a significant interaction effect, condition by time, F(2, 80) = 55.45, p < .001. There were significant differences between the two treatment conditions at Time 2 (post-immediate treatment vs. post-waitlist/delayed), t(11) = −10.08, p < .000. Treatment effects were maintained at 90-day follow-up. Results also showed an overall subjective improvement in the participants. This randomized controlled trial provides evidence for the efficacy of EMDR-PRECI in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms after a technological disaster.
Single Case Study: Does EMDR Psychotherapy Work on Emotional Eating?
Authors: Halvgaard Katrine
Published: November 2015

This article presents the methods and results of a single case study treating the effects of “emotional eating” (EE). It provides a comprehensive review of the literature related to obesity and emotional eating; explains childhood experiences, which may contribute to its development; and describes how emotional eating can become a default behavior for affect regulation. The background for the research is the worldwide epidemic of overeating and obesity. The study was designed to examine whether treating the symptoms of EE with selected protocols and methods within eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy would have a positive effect, and the participant, a 55-year-old woman, was treated with an adjusted version of the desensitization of triggers and urge reprocessing (DeTUR) protocol, including resource installation, affect management, ego state work, and the standard EMDR protocol. The treatment consisted of 6 weekly meetings, each lasting 1.5 hours, and 2 follow-up meetings after 3 and 6 months. The measures, which were self-reported on a qualitative scale (0–10), included the experienced feeling of control in general (affect regulation) in specific eating behavior before and after the treatment, reduction of urge in triggering situations, number of situations with emotional eating per week, and body image before and after the treatment. The participant experienced an overall positive change in eating behavior, and the treatment could be one of the ways to reduce weight over time and to ensure better results in stabilizing weight after weight loss.
The Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Treatments in Treatment of Active Military Personnel and Their Families
Authors: Brickell Matt , Russell Mark C. , Smith Richard B.
Published: November 2015

Between 338,000 and 520,000 active duty military personnel are estimated to have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multiple randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies exist regarding the efficacy of PTSD evidence-based treatments (EBTs); however, it was recommended in the literature that future research on PTSD psychotherapies be conducted on genuine therapies with committed therapists, ideally treatments as practiced in the community, working with samples of patients resembling those seen in the community. We analyzed archival clinical outcome data from U.S. military clientele, being seen in military community counseling centers, who received a PTSD-EBT, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Out of 99 archival cases, 65 were active duty military personnel. PTSD was identified as the primary diagnosis for 65 of the clients; of these 65 cases, 42 involved combat, whereas 23 were noncombat related. Across all outcome measures used, the results after EMDR treatment indicated significant improvement. These findings demonstrated the effectiveness of using PTSD-EBT in treating active military populations in general and EMDR in particular. Future implications for conducting effectiveness research are examined.
Behind-Casing Cement Void Volumetric Evaluation
Authors: Hu Yike , Guo Weijun
Published: November 2015

During the completion of well drilling, cement is pumped into the annulus between the casing and formation to provide zonal isolation and a pressure barrier. The cement integrity inside the annulus is crucial for environmental and safety concerns. One aspect in the evaluation of cement integrity includes the determination of how much void exists inside the cement. This manuscript describes a sub-surface evaluation technique to estimate the cement void volume behind the casing using a gamma ray spectra indicator. The tool includes a radioactive gamma source, a gamma ray detector, and associated electronics. The target under investigation is a layered structure that consists of single or multiple layers of casing, cement in the annulus space, and the formation.

Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) modeling, based on high energy photons transport, was conducted to simulate the energy spectrum deposited on the gamma ray detector. The various cement integrities were represented by a different void volume inside the cement. The detector responses change as the void volume within the cement changes. A spectra indicator was defined to describe the change of the spectra shape. The correspondence between the cement void volume and the spectra indicator, known as the quality curve, was generated through analysis of detector responses from a series of basic structures of known cement integrity, which were built through extensive computer modeling. When cement of unknown integrity is investigated, its spectra indicator can be computed from the recorded gamma ray detector spectra. The cement void volume behind the casing is determined by correlating the spectra indicator with the pre-generated quality curve.
A Novel Cementing Technique In Mid-deep Heavy Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Huiqing , Pang Zhanxi , Cen Xueqi , Xia Jing , Wen Liangfan , Wang Hao , Guan Yuting , Chen Yihe , Wang Jun
Published: November 2015

At present, thermal recovery is an important method for developing heavy oil reservoirs effectively. However, the leakage of cement slurry into the formation during cementing and steam leakage through cement in the annular space around a cemented casing during production have become a problem to be urgently solved in heavy oil reservoir thermal recovery production.

The solutions to these problems are usage of two-stage cement slurry system and the dynamic vibration cementing. The well section from 100 metres above the top of oil layer to the wellhead is cemented by a novel foam cement slurry system, and the rest of the barefoot interval is cementedby the good thermal-stability cement slurry system by using the dynamic vibration cementing technique. The objective of usage of two-stagecement slurry system is to reduceannulus fluid column pressure, and the objective of the dynamic vibration cementing is to achieve a stable hydraulic seal.

The consequences of the pressure reduction in the cement columnare evident. Not only the difficulty of leakage in cementing is settled by applying the low-density foam cement slurry, of which the density is 1.40 g/cm3, but also the heat loss of wellbore is decreased because of reduction of thermal conductivity. The performance of thermal-stability hardened cement paste before and aftersteam vapor curing was compared by lab experiments. The result shows that the compression strength, tensile strength and shear stress of hardened cement paste and of hardened cement pastehad little change. SEM photographs indicate that the microstructure of hardening cement after vibration action is more compact.

These results had been validated on site test. Through the comparison and analysis of cementing quality of two wells in the same block, it has proved that the well with this novel cementing technique is better quality than the other one. The CBL/VDL test report revealed that acoustic amplitude value of the well is less than 10%. The formation wave of the well is clearer than the other and casing wave is weaker.

Through usage of two-stagecement slurry system, not only the difficulty of leak formation in cementing is settled, but also the wellbore heat loss have come down significantly during the course of thermodynamic oil exploitation. And the dynamic vibration cementing can achieve a good thermal-stability hydraulic seal in the annulus space.
Factors Contributing to SAGD Start-Up Performance
Authors: Kaiser T. M. , Taubner S. P.
Published: November 2015

SAGD start-up has considerations for both well integrity and warm-up efficiency. Interest in using insulated tubing to address issues related to both considerations is evolving. The scope of this work is to demonstrate how start-up performance is affected by the use of tubing insulation, both in terms of well integrity and reservoir warming efficiency. Both of these considerations are sensitive to operational and reservoir factors that are specific to the implementation. The basis for using insulated tubing for start-up insulation should therefore take those factors into consideration.

This paper demonstrates the use of wellbore thermo-hydraulics modelling to determine the sensitivity of primary metrics of well integrity and SAGD start-up efficiency to the configuration of tubing, insulation, reservoir injectivity, and various thermal characteristics of casing, cement and formations. The wellbore thermo-hydraulics model includes heat transfer across tubing and casing, between fluid conduits and into the formation. Furthermore, it incorporates a convective heat transfer model to take into account fluid injection association with partial or full "bull-heading" into the reservoir. Boundary conditions allow injection rates to be ramped up consistent with field operations, and and the model calculates the pressure ramp-up associated with the transient mass flow rate applied to the well.

The results include a comprehensive description of the transient temperature in the casing, corresponding to the applied mass injection transient. This information can be used for well integrity interpretations, and start-up rates can be evaluated to manage the risk associated with start-up. Furthermore, the injection temperature and steam quality distribution in the tubing strings and tubing/liner annulus can be determined over the start-up period and during the circulation phase as a basis for determining circulation duration required to reach conditions for SAGD start-up. Temperature distributions in the reservoir can also be determined at prescribed distances from the wellbore.
Slotted Liner Design Optimization for Sand Control in SAGD Wells
Authors: Xie Jueren
Published: November 2015

To recover heavy oil and bitumen from the highly unconsolidated reservoirs of the Western Canada oilsands fields using the horizontal well method, and in particular the thermal in situ method of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD), some forms of sand control, such as slotted liners and wire-wrapped screens (WWS), are generally required to limit sand production and maintain well productivity. Over the past two decades, a number experimental and analytical studies have been performed for developing industry guidelines and best practices for the structural and hydraulic design and evaluation of sand control liners under the challenging conditions of SAGD steam injection and production wells. The vast majority of SAGD applications, estimated at about 90% (RPS 2009), employ slotted liners as the sand control method. Design efforts to address the structural and serviceability requirements, however, often oppose one other, presenting significant challenges to the design of slotted liners. For example, in order to maintain sufficient torque, collapse and strain-absorbing capacities, traditional slotted liners are often designed to have low Open Flow Areas (OFA) around 1%, although a larger OFA is desired for production efficiency.

This paper reviews current design requirements for SAGD wells, as well as puts forward a new slotted liner design consideration for the optimized performance under installation and operational loads. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) modeling, the effect of key design parameters, such as slot length and slot pattern, are studied. This paper focuses on the feasibility study of achieving higher OFA than the currently-used limit, while maintaining sufficient torque, collapse and strain-absorbing capacities under thermal well load conditions.
Integrity Assessment of Thermal Horizontal Well Liners Using Torque and Drag
Authors: Scot Buell R.
Published: November 2015

Time-lapse, cased hole torque and drag (T&D) measurements and soft string T&D modeling were undertaken in two experimental horizontal steam injection wells for the purpose of assessing the integrity of the slotted liner completions over a 20 month period. A series of progressively complex completions were installed in the wells to manage steam conformance and measure steam injection flow profiles in this mobile, heavy oil application. This T&D work was done to understand if sand influx, scale and asphaltene deposition, or thermal strain damage was occurring within the slotted liner thus increasing the deployment and recovery risk of the tubing-deployed completions. For each injector, T&D measurements were repeatedly obtained at the same depths during each workover with the same 3-1/2 inch (89 mm) tubing string.

T&D data is inexpensive and easy to acquire during rig operations. Commercial software is readily available to model T&D and estimate cased hole friction factors (CHFF). Analysis of T&D in these wells did provide insights for sand influx and scale deposition. However, T&D analysis did not provide insights into all integrity problems encountered which included metal clamp debris that would not allow packers to be landed at the target depth and corrosion failures resulting in parted tubing. T&D measurement analysis is a useful integrity diagnostic in horizontal injectors, but needs to be supplemented with other information to get a complete picture of wellbore conditions. Considering the general lack of information that heavy oil operators get from the horizontal section of their wells, it is recommended that baseline cased hole T&D measurements be acquired on horizontal wells during initial completion with 0.1 Kip precision. Comparing both T&D measurements and CHFF's on subsequent workovers did provide insights on the stability of horizontal wellbore conditions.
Maximizing the Life of the Well Through Successful Cementing Technologies in Thermal Wells
Authors: López Rodrigo M. , Urbaneja Rafael J. , Marquez Asdruelys
Published: November 2015

Reversing the natural process of pressure decline in hydrocarbon deposits and decreasing damage in the sandface caused by drilling, production, etc. are the most significant operator objectives for maximizing the extraction of hydrocarbon reserves. This paper discusses the successful application of cementing technologies in thermal wells to maximize the life of the well.

In areas, such as the Orinoco Belt, the implementation of cyclic and continuous steam injection helps decrease oil viscosity and improves oil-relative permeability to increase production. Because conditions downhole vary dramatically, it is recommended that cement slurry designs be based on the position in the hole and the conditions to which slurries will be subjected during their lifetime. To help overcome these challenges, combinations of optimized treatment procedures and technologies were applied to wells in extreme conditions, demonstrating improved results.

In fields where conditions do not allow the drainage of oil reserves by natural production mechanisms, the application of improved recovery methods can provide benefits in terms of crude properties and productivity of the well. Using new-generation integral zero running force centralizers attached to the casing helped improve centralization. High-performance thermal self-healing cements were the most suitable choice for cementing under these conditions. Temperatures encountered by the cement slurry during and after placement were estimated using a simulator, which considers the heat transfer phenomena. Displacement of mud was enhanced using a state-of-the-art three-dimensional (3D) simulator to design a custom-fit solution.

Applications of these technologies have been successful, providing zonal isolation at production zones and minimizing remedial work.

These technologies can be applied using appropriate modifications for different global regions where similar challenges are encountered; additionally, they have the potential to provide cost benefits.
Strain-Based and Low Cycle Fatigue Design Approaches for Thermal Service Tubulars
Authors: Suryanarayana P. V. , Krishnamurthy R. M.
Published: November 2015

Strain-based approaches that allow post-yield loading are now quite common in the design of tubulars for high temperature service in cyclic steam stimulation and similar applications. The traditional notionally strain-based design approach proposed by Holliday (ASME 69-PET-10, 1969) has formed the basis of design for several decades. In this work, a modified Holliday approach, which provides a rational, easily applied basis of design for thermal service tubulars, is presented. The modifications improve upon several assumptions made in the original approach, especially that of an ideal elastic-plastic, symmetric material. Thermal effects important in design, such as temperature deration of yield, cyclic strain hardening, Bauschinger effect, thermal stress relaxation, and strain localization are incorporated in the design approach, and acceptable design factors for different tubular grades are proposed. While familiar and able to produce reliable and acceptable designs, the modified approach has several limitations, which are discussed in the paper. These limitations largely arise from the fact that cyclic plastic strain is usually unavoidable in a thermal service tubular, and as a result, mechanical failure is rooted in fatigue. In this paper, a new, Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) approach is presented as an alternative for critical thermal applications. The approach is based on the concepts of Critical Strain, a material property, and Ductile Failure Damage Indicator (DFDI), a plastic damage parameter. The new approach accumulates the plastic damage through the parameter DFDI, and can handle both cyclic and applied monotonic strains in the plastic region. The plastic damage is correlatable to critical strain, and can incorporate the influence of principal stresses and cyclic loads in the plastic region. The paper presents the basis of these parameters, and their use in assessment of plastic damage failure in other tubular and structural design approaches. The method offers some advantages over the more traditional, Coffin-Manson based LCF models, including reduced experimental burden, ability to incorporate connections and sour service considerations, and the ability to handle non-zero mean strain. Limitations of the method, and ongoing efforts to address them, are presented. The paper also presents an example illustrating the application of the new LCF approach.
Vacuum Insulated Tubing in Thermally Assisted Heavy Oil Production
Authors: Zhang Yongfeng , Lei Yuexin , Xiao Jon H , Klotz Eric , Shen Jim
Published: November 2015

The use of Vacuum Insulated Tubing (VIT) has been broadened to include a wide range of Thermally Assisted Heavy Oil production schemes. This paper shares completion designs and resultant data from a variety of commercialized projects utilizing VIT. The Production Schemes investigated are CSS, Steam Flood and SAGD. The aforementioned completions all have nuanced relationships to VIT due to differing temperature, pressures and heat loss analysis and all will offer insights into the overall efficiency, reliability and longevity of the cases under investigation. The data compiled will show heat loss and steam quality and how they relate to overall well integrity and life cycle costs of the well in question.