Care providers learning to deal with troubled conscience through participatory action research

The aim of this study was to identify a process to assist care providers in dealing constructively with their troubled conscience generated by a difficult situation in elderly care relating to spitting behaviour. Our idea was, with help from participatory action research (PAR), that sharing and reflecting with others upon the voice of conscience, may support care providers to find ways to deal constructively with troubled conscience. Care providers in municipal elderly care participated in intervention sessions over one year, and with support from PAR, they were able to learn to ease the burden of a troubled conscience. They dealt with their troubled conscience constructively by sharing their thoughts and feelings, and gaining more knowledge about behavioural symptoms. They were trying to take relevant measures when caring for the resident, and perceiving the behaviour as unintentional. In this study PAR contributes with increased understanding of the necessity to listen to one's conscience and of the possibility of using conscience as a driving force, to develop clinical practice. This contribution of PAR may in the long run increase quality of care and work-related health.