Psicoeducación para prevenir el malestar psicológico a los usuarios de sala de espera de un centro de salud en Guayaquil

Abstract

This systematization work is based on the collection of psychoeducational experience developed in the waiting room of a Health Center in the city of Guayaquil, during the author’s pre- professional internship period. The psychoeducation was aimed at diverse groups of users who visited the facility daily, with the purpose of offering clear and accessible information to raise awareness about psychological distress and its prevention. The central objective of this systematization was to identify the learnings, challenges, and contributions derived from the implementation of nine psychoeducational sessions, aimed at promoting reflection, providing basic guidance, and facilitating the understanding of factors that influence emotional well-being, by analyzing the applied content, group dynamics, and the reception of information by the users. The methodology used followed a qualitative approach, guided by the principles of the systematization of experiences proposed by Oscar Jara, through an observation process, a field diary, and a documentary review. The experience allowed for the recognition of psychoeducation as an important tool to bring mental health topics closer to the community in a preventive and understandable way, especially in everyday spaces such as the waiting room. Challenges inherent to the environment were identified, such as limited time, the constant flow of users, and dispersed attention. However, the experience allowed for a critical reflection on pre-professional practice and provides relevant elements for strengthening future psychoeducational actions in a similar setting.