Practical Issues in Developing a Culturally Tailored Physical Activity Promotion Program for Chinese and Korean American Midlife Women: A Pilot Study.

Wonshik Chee,Jingwen Zhang,Sangmi Kim,Tsung-Lan Chu,Eun-Ok Im,Xiaopeng Ji,Hsiu-Min Tsai,Eunice Chee

doi:10.2196/jmir.6454

Abstract

BackgroundWith advances in computer technologies, Web-based interventions are widely accepted and welcomed by health care providers and researchers. Although the benefits of Web-based interventions on physical activity promotion have been documented, the programs have rarely targeted Asian Americans, including Asian American midlife women. Subsequently, culturally competent Web-based physical activity programs for Asian Americans may be necessary.ObjectiveThe purpose of our study was to explore practical issues in developing and implementing a culturally competent Web-based physical activity promotion program for 2 groups of Asian American women—Chinese American and Korean American midlife women—and to provide implications for future research.MethodsWhile conducting the study, the research team members wrote individual memos on issues and their inferences on plausible reasons for the issues. The team had group discussions each week and kept the minutes of the discussions. Then, the memos and minutes were analyzed using a content analysis method.ResultsWe identified practical issues in 4 major idea categories: (1) bilingual translators’ language orientations, (2) cultural sensitivity requirement, (3) low response rate, interest, and retention, and (4) issues in implementation logistics.ConclusionsBased on the issues, we make several suggestions for the use of bilingual translators, motivational strategies, and implementation logistics.

Highlights

Increasing use of the Internet by racial/ethnic minorities has prompted health researchers to be interested in using the Internet as a method for data collection and as a medium for interventions for racial/ethnic minorities
In phase 1, for a usability test, the first 5 Asian American midlife women who participated in previous studies of the research team and who indicated their interests in participating in additional studies were involved in a 1-month-long Web-based forum
We identified 4 practical issues in developing and implementing a culturally competent Web-based physical activity promotion program for 2 groups of Asian American midlife women (Chinese American and Korean American)

Summary

Introduction

Increasing use of the Internet by racial/ethnic minorities has prompted health researchers to be interested in using the Internet as a method for data collection and as a medium for interventions for racial/ethnic minorities. Web-based programs reportedly have great potential to narrow racial/ethnic disparities in health and illness experience and to reduce barriers to care by providing information and support to racial/ethnic minorities [6,7]. Socially marginalized or deprived people (eg, those with low income) are reportedly more interested in eHealth than are others, and Internet resources are valued by those who cannot establish equal and honest relationships with their health care providers in clinical settings (eg, racial/ethnic minorities) [8,9,10,11,12,13]. Objective: The purpose of our study was to explore practical issues in developing and implementing a culturally competent Web-based physical activity promotion program for 2 groups of Asian American women—Chinese American and Korean American midlife women—and to provide implications for future research. Conclusions: Based on the issues, we make several suggestions for the use of bilingual translators, motivational strategies, and implementation logistics

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Conclusion