Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05405803

To Improve Depressive Symptoms Using a Web-App

This study is being done to answer a question on whether a Web App-based Lifestyle Physical Activity Promotion Program is effective in improving depressive symptom experience of midlife Korean American women (WPAPP-K).

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms

Age range

40 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, Texas, 78712, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Wonshik Chee, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

512-232-2121

About this study

This study is being done to answer a question on whether a Web App-based Lifestyle Physical Activity Promotion Program is effective in improving depressive symptom experience of midlife Korean American women (WPAPP-K). Korean American midlife women tend to suffer from depressive symptoms due to their menopausal transition, cultural background, age, and gender. The WPAPP-K program that the investigators are testing is designed to help Korean American midlife women by providing information and coaching/support to increase lifestyle physical activity and subsequently improve their depressive symptom experience during the menopausal transition. The research team wants to know if the program improves depressive symptom experience of Korean American midlife women as designed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • self-reported midlife Korean-American women
  • aged 40 to 60 years
  • whose parents and grandparents are of Korean descent;
  • who can read and write English or Korean;
  • who currently reside in the United States;
  • who are sedentary (without any disabilities preventing physical activity);
  • who are online through computers or mobile devices;
  • have experienced depressive symptoms during the past two weeks (1 to 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9],which is equivalent to the cut-point of minimal to moderate depression.

Exclusion criteria

  • major signs or symptoms suggestive of pulmonary or CVD
  • history of a myocardial infarction, stroke, or Type I diabetes mellitus
  • blood pressure higher than 160/100 mm Hg
  • Use of beta-blockers, diltiazem, or verapamil

Treatment and study plan

Web-App based Lifestyle Physical Activity Promotion Program

Behavioral

WPAPP-K includes group and individual coaching/support by health care providers, peer coaching/support, and information to change the women's attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, and social influences.

The program includes 3 components in 2 languages (English and Korean):

  • Social media sites: allow participants to share their experiences and to receive individual and group coaching/ support from culturally matched peers and healthcare providers.
  • Interactive online educational sessions: information on 15 topics related to depressive symptoms and lifestyle physical activity.
  • Online Resources: include 20 links in English or Korean (only from scientific authorities including NIH, CDC,etc.).

Weekly group coaching and support will start after the first 10 participants are enrolled, but individual coaching/support will start as soon as a participant enrolls.

Other names: WPAPP-K

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website on depression and physical activity guidelines

Behavioral

A link to the CDC website will be provided through the project website, and participants will be asked to use it during the study period (12 months). Their use of the CDC website will be automatically measured through the project website.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Korean (CESD-K)

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention (T2)

    The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Korean (CESD-K) measures the frequency of depressive symptoms in the past week. It includes 20 items on the level of depression (range=0~60). 21 as a cutoff score, indicating presence of depressive symptoms, because Koreans give negative responses for positive effects. High scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. A lower score correlates with better outcome.

  2. Change in Acculturation Stress Scale (ASS)

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    12 questions to assess the magnitude of stress associated with acculturation process (e.g., language difficulties, economic and social conflicts). Each with 4-point Likert scale (0=not stressful to 3=very stressful). Total possible score 0-36 with higher score correlating with worse outcome.

  3. Change in Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    57 items on life events (e.g., death, marriage, empty nest, etc.), giving different weighting depending on the severity of the stressor (possible total score 0 to 100). Higher score correlates with higher stress.

  4. Change in Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ-2000)

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    15 7-point Likert scale items measuring perceived level of social support. 5 dimensions: (a) provision for attachment/intimacy; (b) social integration; (c) opportunity for nurturing behavior; (d) reassurance of worth; and (e) the availability of informational, emotional, and material helps.

    Total possible score range: 15 to 105. Higher scores indicating more support; higher scores are better outcomes.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS)

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    The KPAS is a self-report measure regarding physical activity and living habits. Survey consists of 38 items; 4 domains: household and family care activities, occupational activities, active living habits, participation in sports/ exercise. Activity indices were created for each domain of activity by summing the domain-specific categorical responses and dividing by the number of items, giving an average value that ranged from 1 to 5. Total activity index is calculated as the sum of all four indices: Total activity = (household/caregiving index*0.25 + occupational index*0.25 + active living index*0.25 + sports/exercise index*0.25) * 4.

  2. Change in total number of steps using Fitbit

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    Lifestyle physical activity score using Fitbit, measuring number of steps.

  3. Change in time of exercise using Fitbit

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    Lifestyle physical activity score using Fitbit, measuring time of exercise.

  4. Change in exercise intensity during using Fitbit

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    Lifestyle physical activity score using Fitbit, measuring type of exercise intensity (low, medium, or high intensity). Higher intensity correlates with better outcome.

  5. Change in resting heart rate using Fitbit

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    Fitbit wil record continuous, automatic, wrist-based resting heart rates.

  6. Change in BMI from baseline

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    2 questions on body weight and height to measure BMI (BMI calculated in kg/m).

  7. Change in waist circumference

    Time frame: Baseline(T0), 6-months post-intervention (T1), and post 12-months post-intervention

    The participants will measure their waist circumferences to the nearest cm at the narrowest part of the torso above the umbilicus and below the xiphoid using the paper rulers that will be mailed to them.136 Information with pictures on how to correctly measure and assistance by phone and/or Webcam will be provided.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Wonshik Chee, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

512-232-2121

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Registry information

Official study title

A Web-App Based Lifestyle Physical Activity Promotion Program to Improve Depressive Symptom Experience: Midlife Korean American Women

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 6, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 12, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.