The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing PhD Candidate Oscar Franco-Rocha, BSN, RN, recently published the article “Theory of Health Promotion for Sexual and Gender Minority Populations with Cancer” in the September-October 2024 edition of Nursing Outlook, the journal of the American Academy of Nursing.
The study addresses how structural factors like cisheteronormativity create minority stressors, resulting in healthcare disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations with cancer. Given the varying responses to these stressors throughout their life course, there is a notable lack of guidance on health outcomes among SGM subgroups. To address this gap, the study proposes a nursing theory for promoting the health of SGM individuals with cancer, following Walker and Avant’s strategies for theoretical derivation. The theory outlines definitions, theoretical assumptions, concepts, propositions and practical implications for practice, education, research and policy. This framework aims to better understand and mitigate the multilevel impact of minority stress on SGM individuals throughout their cancer care continuum.