About

Wonshik Chee is a Research Professor at the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin. He is associated with the Technology-Based Behavioral Intervention Research (TBIR) Lab. His contact information includes an email address at wonshik.chee@austin.utexas.edu and a phone number of 512-232-1131. His office is located at NUR 3.410 in the School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St., Austin, TX 78712. The page does not provide additional details about his research focus, background, or key contributions.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Medicine
• Psychology
• Medical education
• Gerontology
• Family medicine
• Nursing
• Physical therapy
• Environmental health
• Anthropology
• Pedagogy
• Applied psychology
• Internal medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Psychotherapist

Selected publications

• Why is it Difficult to Recruit/Retain Asian American Family Caregivers in a Virtual Intervention?

  Western Journal of Nursing Research · 2025-03-18 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st author

  BACKGROUND: Virtual interventions using computers and mobile devices have increasingly been developed and tested among racial and ethnic minorities in recent years. Yet, few virtual interventions have been developed for Asian American midlife women who are family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, little is known about the feasibility of recruiting this specific group of racial/ethnic minority midlife women to a virtual intervention study. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to discuss practical issues in recruiting and retaining this specific group of racial/ethnic minority midlife women for a virtual intervention study. METHODS: The ongoing parent study is to develop and test a preliminary version of a virtual intervention for this specific population. During the research process, the research team had regular meetings to have discussions on recruitment and retention issues and each team member wrote research diaries. A content analysis was conducted with the written records including the research team's research diaries and meeting minutes. RESULTS: The issues were: (1) an extremely small pool of Asian American midlife women who were family caregivers of persons living with AD; (2) competitions with other studies, (3) practicality of inclusion/exclusion criteria, (4) lack of time and interests in research participation, and (5) negative perception of small monetary incentives. CONCLUSION: Future researchers need to consider the unique cultural and social dynamics of this specific population, foster trusted connections with the communities before initiating the study, and obtain feedback from potential gatekeepers and the communities in advance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Who Are Midlife Women Family Caregivers With Negative Attitudes Toward Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care?

  Western Journal of Nursing Research · 2025-02-06

  articleSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Midlife women play a major role as the family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's disease (PLAD). Cultural differences are frequently the major reason for the high risk faced by racial and ethnic minority family caregivers. However, little is known about the characteristics of midlife women family caregivers that are linked to their negative attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and dementia care. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of midlife women who were family caregivers of PLAD that were linked to their negative attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and dementia caregiving. METHODS: A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from 172 midlife women who were family caregivers of PLAD and participated in a large cross-sectional online survey. Linear multiple regression analyses were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: Participants' attitude toward Alzheimer's disease and related dementia scores were significantly associated with employment status, race/ethnicity (Hispanic), and instrumental activities of daily living. Those who were unemployed, Hispanic, and with low instrumental activities of daily living tended to have negative attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and dementia care. CONCLUSIONS: Additional interventions should be developed to improve attitudes toward caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia in this specific group of midlife women who are family caregivers of PLAD.

  PublisherDOI

• A Technology-Based Educational Intervention and Multiple Domains of Symptom Experience: Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors

  Journal of Cancer Education · 2025-05-15

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Informal caregiving for people with dementia and hearing or vision impairment: A systematic review

  Alzheimer s & Dementia · 2025-08-01

  articleOpen access

  Caregivers of individuals with dementia often face the dual challenge of managing dementia alongside sensory impairments (hearing and/or vision loss). Despite the significant burden, this issue remains underexplored, with existing research largely overlooking the impact of sensory impairments on caregivers' experiences. This systematic review examines the challenges and needs of caregivers managing both conditions. A comprehensive literature search across three databases identified 12 studies published before May 2024 in five countries. The review revealed that caregivers face increased challenges when managing both dementia and sensory impairments. Unmet needs, particularly in accessing tailored support and assistive technologies, were prevalent. Multidisciplinary care and interventions are crucial to address both cognitive and sensory needs. To improve the quality of life for caregivers and sensory impaired dementia patients, comprehensive support systems, enhanced caregiver education, and better access to affordable assistive technologies are essential. Addressing these disparities is critical for providing effective care. HIGHLIGHTS: This review focuses on informal caregiving for people with dementia and sensory loss. Caregivers face increased challenges due to managing both dementia and sensory impairments. There are additive implications of caring for people with dual impairments. Further research is needed on interventions to support this caregiver population.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• TCTAP A-096 Lessons Learned From Technology-Based Physical Activity Promotion Programs for Asian American Midlife Women

  Journal of the American College of Cardiology · 2025-04-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Lessons learned from implementing a Culturally Tailored Virtual Support Program for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Pain and Depression: A discussion paper (Preprint)

  Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2025-07-23

  preprintOpen access

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S., with a greater increase in incidence among Asian American women than among others. Despite having resided in the U.S. for decades, Asian American breast cancer survivors face unique cultural challenges, including stigma and reluctance to disclose their illness. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aimed to discuss practical issues encountered in implementing a culturally tailored, technology-based program aimed at reducing pain and depressive symptoms in Asian American breast cancer survivors. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> This study was analyzed using simple content analysis based on meeting minutes and research diaries from the parent study to identify themes related to practical issues in conducting a culturally tailored, technology-based intervention among Asian American breast cancer survivors with pain and depressive symptoms. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Key issues identified include (a) reluctance to disclose; (b) variability in engagement, based on disease status; (c) need for personalized support; and (d) intra-ethnic differences related to various factors. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Suggestions for future research include (a) tailoring communication to participants’ preferences while building trust over time, (b) applying flexible care strategies, (c) assessing individual needs early and adapting materials based on feedback, (d) matching participants with interventionists according to language and level of acculturation, and (e) respecting differences in cultural identities between ethnic subgroups. Addressing these challenges can improve the effectiveness of technology-based interventions for racial/ethnic minority groups </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06085313; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06085313 </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• Racial/ethnic differences in social support for dementia caregiving: Midlife women family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease

  Geriatric Nursing · 2025-01-31 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Practical issues in recruiting and retaining Asian American breast cancer survivors in a technology-based intervention study: A discussion paper

  Journal of Clinical and Translational Science · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen access1st author

  Introduction: Recruiting and retaining racial/ethnic minorities in research remains a significant challenge, often due to mistrust in clinical research and cultural misconceptions related to specific conditions. Despite the anonymity provided by technology-based intervention studies, difficulties in participant recruitment and retention in these studies remain. This paper addresses practical issues in recruiting and retaining Asian American breast cancer survivors with pain and depressive symptoms in a technology-based intervention study. Methods: To identify practical issues in participant recruitment and retention, a content analysis was conducted on all recorded materials, including research diaries of individual research team members, weekly team meeting minutes, and research team members' posts on Microsoft Teams. Results: Analysis identified six practical issues: (a) strict inclusion/exclusion criteria; (b) multiple stigmas associated with cancer, depressive symptoms, and pain; (c) lack of interest in research participation; (d) closed Asian American communities/groups; (e) frequent technological issues; and (f) potential unauthentic cases. Conclusion: Addressing these recruitment and retention issues can inform the design of future culturally tailored, technology-based intervention studies for racial and ethnic minority populations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Recruitment and Retention of Asian Americans in Web-Based Physical Activity Promotion Programs

  UNC Libraries · 2025-07-29

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Web-based interventions that promote physical activity have been tested in various populations and proven effective. However, information on recruiting and retaining ethnic minorities in these interventions is limited. This study discusses practical issues in recruitment and retention of Asian Americans using three strategies: (1) only Web-based intervention (Group 1), (2) one with Fitbit Charge HR (Group 2), and (3) one with Fitbit Charge HR and office visits (Group 3). Recruitment and retention rates, minutes of weekly research team meetings, and the researchers' memos were collected. Retention rates were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the minutes and memos were content analyzed following Weber's methods. Retention rates varied by the end of the first (12% in Group 3, 36.9% in Group 2) and third month (0% in Group 3, 36.9% in Group 2). The practical issues were (1) difficulties in recruitment across strategies, (2) the necessity of using community consultants/leaders across strategies, (3) subethnic differences across strategies, (4) timing issues across strategies, (5) Fitbit as a facilitator with several hindrances, and (6) office visits as an inhibitor. Fitbits with user guidelines and community consultants'/leaders' involvement are proposed for future Web-based interventions to promote physical activity in Asian Americans.

  PublisherDOI

• Multiple dimensions of the quality of life among Asian American breast cancer survivors: The impact of a technology-based program

  The Breast · 2025-05-08

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine if a technology-based information and coaching/support program could improve the quality of life of Asian American breast cancer survivors and determine the factors that influenced the changes in the women's quality of life by the technology-based program. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial with 199 Asian American breast cancer survivors (104 in the intervention group and 95 in the control group). Multiple instruments including the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) were used to assess background factors, disease factors, and the quality of life. The data were analyzed using intent-to-treat general linear models. RESULTS: The FACT-B total and subscale scores of the intervention group increased from pre-test (T0) to post 3-months (T2), while those of the control group decreased. Significant interaction between time and group were found only in physical well-being (β = 0.84, p = .025) from T0 to T1 (post 1-month) and social well-being (β = 1.05, p = .006) from T0 to T2 within the mixed-effect model with AR1. The PRQ scores mediated the effect of the technology-based intervention on the Breast Cancer Subscale scores (p < .05) over one month (T0 to T1). CONCLUSION: The technology-based program improved physical and social well-being among Asian American breast cancer survivors. Social support mediated the impact of the program on the quality of life. Future studies are needed on different dimensions of the quality of life with diverse groups of survivors. NCT02803593.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Eun‐Ok Im

  426 shared

• Eunice Chee

  North Carolina State University

  247 shared

• Xiaopeng Ji

  184 shared

• Yaelim Lee

  National University of Singapore

  138 shared

• Sangmi Kim

  Guy's Hospital

  118 shared

• Hsiu‐Min Tsai

  Taiwan Nurses Association

  104 shared

• Jingwen Zhang

  Changhai Hospital

  76 shared

• Soo‐Young Park

  Kyungpook National University

  51 shared

Education

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering

  University of California, Berkeley

  1997