Introduction: There are a lot of patients with life-threatening illnesses and many of them needs palliative care. The occupational therapist has special role in the care of patients with life-threatening illnesses, but the true value of their role is still unknown. Purpose: We wanted to determine what is the opinion of the occupational therapist about their role in palliative care. To determine in which way can occupational therapist improve quality of life people with life-threatening illnesses and their family. Methods: In the study participated five occupational therapists who are employed in Savinjska region. All of them were female. The age was between 35 and 54. We obtained data using a semi-structured interview, which has been recorded with permission of the participants. Results: Through the process of qualitative analysis we were able to form three different topics. First topic is called: 1) Experience of occupational therapist in palliative care, second is called 2) The role of occupational therapist in palliative care and third is called 3) The effect of occupation on people with life-threatening illnesses. Occupational therapists are facing with lack of experience in palliative care and all of them wish to have more chance for education in this discipline. Their role is important mostly because of holistic approach with which they enabling people to maintain independence and quality of life. Interviewers emphasized that people with life-threatening illnesses need to be included in their meaningful occupations because with them they can maintain their life roles, dignity and shifting negative thoughts about death. Discussion and conclusion: The results have shown that the occupational therapists have opinion, that because of their holistic approach they can give people with life-threatening-illnesses support to have better quality of life. Occupational therapy is still a branch of health care, which need to have more chances for education in palliative care. It will be necessary for occupational therapists to show with evidence supported practice their value and get the opportunity for a place in palliative team as an equal member and contribute care for people with life-threatening illnesses.
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