Introduction: The necessity of culturally competent Internet Cancer Support Groups (ICSGs) for ethnic minorities has recently been highlighted in order to increase its attractivity, and usage. The purpose of this study was to determine the preliminary efficacy of a culturally tailored registered nurse (RN) moderated ICSG for Asian American breast cancer survivors (ICSG-AA) in enhancing the women’s breast cancer survivorship experience. Methods: The study included two phases: (a) a usability test and an expert review; and (b) a randomized controlled pilot intervention study. The usability test was conducted among five Asian American breast cancer survivors using a 1-month online forum, and the expert review was conducted among five experts using the Cognitive Walkthrough method. The randomized controlled pilot intervention study (a pre-test and post-test design) was conducted among 65 Asian American breast cancer survivors. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive and inferential statistics including the repeated ANOVA. Results: All users and experts positively evaluated the program, and provided their suggestions for the display, educational contents, and user-friendly structure. There were significant positive changes in support care needs and physical and psychological symptoms (p < 0.05) of the control group. There were significant negative changes in the uncertainty level of the intervention group (p < 0.10). Controlling for background and disease factors, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in physical and psychological symptoms and quality of life (p < 0.10). Discussion: The findings supported the positive effects of ICSGs on support care needs, psychological and physical symptoms, and quality of life.

Objective: One of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms following breast cancer treatment is menopausal symptoms. Asian American breast cancer survivors have lower quality of life and often receive inadequate management of menopausal symptoms compared to other racial/ ethnic groups. Technology-based programs could be a solution to fill the gap in care. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a technology-based information and coaching/support program on menopausal symptoms of Asian American breast cancer survivors.Methods: This study adopted a randomized pretest/posttest group design among 91 Asian American breast cancer survivors (42 in an intervention group who used the program and the American Cancer Society [ACS] website and 49 in a control group who used only the ACS website). The intervention was a theory-driven and culturally tailored intervention program that aimed to provide information and coaching/support using computers and mobile devices. Multiple instruments were used to measure background characteristics and menopausal symptoms at pretest, post 1-month, and post 3-months. An intent-to-treat linear mixed-model growth curve analysis was used to analyze the data. Results:The intervention group showed a significant decrease in the distress scores of menopausal symptoms over time: physical (β = −0.07, p = 0.08), psychological (β = −0.13, p = 0.05), psychosomatic (β = −0.17, p = 0.06), and total symptoms (β = −0.19, p = 0.01). Theorybased variables including attitudes, social influences and self-efficacy partially mediated the impact of the intervention on the distress scores of menopausal symptoms (p < 0.10).

Despite a lack of studies on Hispanic midlife women's physical activity, the existing studies have indicated that Hispanics' ethnic-specific attitudes toward physical activity contributed to their lack of physical activity. However, little is still clearly known about Hispanic midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity. The purpose of this study was to explore Hispanic midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity using a feminist perspective. The study was a 6-month qualitative online forum among 23 Hispanic women who were recruited through Internet communities/groups. The data were collected using 17 online forum topics on attitudes toward physical activity and ethnicspecific contexts. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three major themes emerged from the data analysis process: (a) "family first, no time for myself," (b) "little exercise, but naturally healthy," and (c) "dad died of heart attack." Although some of the women perceived the importance of physical activity due to their family history of chronic diseases, the study participants thought that physical activity would be a waste of time in their busy daily schedules. These findings provided directions for future health care practice and research to increase physical activity among Hispanic midlife women.

The findings supported the feasibility of a 3-month Web-based intervention for menopausal symptom management among Asian American midlife women and the preliminary efficacy of the program in increasing their physical activity.

Objectives To explore Asian American midlife women’s attitudes toward physical activity using a feminist perspective. Design A qualitative online forum study. Settings Internet communities/groups for midlife women and ethnic minorities. Participants A total of 17 Asian American women recruited through the internet using a convenience sampling method. Methods A six-month qualitative online forum was conducted using 17 online forum topics. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Three major themes related to Asian American midlife women’s attitudes toward physical activity were extracted from the data: keeping traditions, not a priority, and not for Asian girls. Because Asian American midlife women were busy in keeping their cultural traditions, they rarely found time for physical activity. The women gave the highest priority to their children, and physical activity was the lowest priority in their busy lives. Also, the women were rarely encouraged to participate in physical activity during their childhoods, and they perceived that their weak and small bodies were not appropriate for physical activity. Conclusions Several implications for future development of physical activity promotion programs for this specific population have been suggested based on the findings.