Culturally adapted sleep education for older Korean immigrants

A Culturally Adapted Sleep Intervention Program for Older Asian Immigrants With Limited English Proficiency

NA · University of California, Los Angeles · NCT07387406

This pilot tests a Korean-language, culturally adapted CBT-I sleep education program to see if it improves sleep for older Korean immigrants with chronic insomnia.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment32 (estimated)
Ages60 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles (other)
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, California)
Trial IDNCT07387406 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized trial will enroll 32 older Korean immigrants with chronic insomnia and randomize them 1:1 to a culturally adapted, manual-based CBT-I program (SLEEP-OK) or an information-only control. The intervention is delivered in Korean through community partner sites and focuses on culturally tailored sleep education and behavioral strategies. Outcomes include feasibility measures, acceptability, and sleep health outcomes measured at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Results will inform whether a larger efficacy trial is warranted.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Korean-born U.S. residents aged 60 or older who speak, read, and write Korean, have significant insomnia (ISI ≥ 15), intact cognition (MoCA ≥ 23), can ambulate, and have low risk for untreated moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Not a fit: People with untreated moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, those who are bedbound, those who do not meet DSM-5 criteria for insomnia, or those unable to participate in Korean-language sessions are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve sleep quality among older Korean immigrants and expand access to culturally appropriate, non-drug insomnia care.

How similar studies have performed: Standard CBT-I has shown strong benefits for older adults, but culturally adapted CBT-I programs for Korean immigrants are novel and have limited prior evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Korean immigrants (i.e., being a resident of the United States with a birthplace in Korea)
* Able to speak, read, and write in Korean
* Aged at least 60 years
* Have a score of at least 15 on a Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index
* Able to ambulate with or without an assistive device
* Have a score of at least 23 on a Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
* Score less than 5 on STOP-BANG (or proceed with an additional testing \[Watch Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (WatchPAT) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale if score is equal to or greater than 5 on STOP-BANG)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who are bedbound
* Those who do not meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for insomnia disorder
* Those who have an untreated apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) at least 15 (moderate obstructive sleep apnea) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) at least 11 (indicating mild sleepiness) OR AHI is equal to or greater than 30 (irrespective of ESS)

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Insomnia Chronic, older Korean Americans, sleep, behavioral approach

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.