Environmental education in teaching-service-community integration practices: application of educational technologies in the waiting room

Abstract

Objective  to analyze the potential of the waiting room in Primary Health Care for environmental education in teaching-service-community practices through educational technologies.

Method  a descriptive exploratory study, with a qualitative approach and documentary basis. Data collection occurred in December 2023, at a federal higher education institution in northern Brazil, including records of mandatory curricular activity and final monitoring report, which were submitted to content analysis in order to identify the documents relevant to coding, from which three categories emerged.

Results  the data pointed out as potential: sharing of information among users, professionals, and students; improvement of cognitive skills; and user health and awareness promotion about environmental issues. The program offered for teaching qualification, in the sense of training for the Brazilian Health System, proved to be a tool for boosting interprofessional education.

Conclusions and implications for practice  the study can contribute to identifying potential of the waiting room in teaching and learning about environmental education. It enables health training strategies from the perspective of education, health, and the environment.

Keywords:  Educational Technology; Environmental Health Education; Nursing; Primary Health Care; Unified Health System