Kudos to Eun-Ok Im and Wonshik Chee and their entire team for the submission of their NIH R01 Multi-PI application entitled "A Technology-based Physical Activity Promotion for Mid-life Women from Four Major Ethnic Groups." This proposal requests funding for a five-year period with a start date of July 1, 2017.

Abstract: With multiple changes due to menopausal transition, midlife women, especially ethnic minority women, are at increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Despite well-known beneficial effects of physical activity on reducing these risks, the participation rate in physical activity by midlife women, especially by ethnic minority women, still remains low. A main reason for their low physical activity has been postulated as a lack of consideration on their cultural attitudes related to physical activity in physical activity promotion. Due to the pressures of a fast-paced primary care setting, healthcare providers frequently find it difficult to provide information and coaching/support related to physical activity to midlife women, especially ethnic minority women, while considering their cultural attitudes. Thus, there is a great need for adopting an innovative and effective method of delivering information and coaching/support related to physical activity to the women that considers their cultural attitudes.

Technology-based programs using mobile devices, computers, and accelerometers promise to meet the need with high flexibility and accessibility. Thus, based on a previous R01 study (R01NR010568), the research team developed and pilot-tested a theory-driven technology-based information and coaching/support program for physical activity promotion that is culturally tailored to four major ethnic groups in the U.S. using multiple features. The purpose of this randomized intervention study is to determine the efficacy of the theory driven and culturally tailored technology-based physical activity promotion program (TPAPP) in improving physical activity of four major ethnic groups (Non-Hispanic [NH] White, Hispanic, NH African American, and NH Asian) of midlife women in the U.S.