Introduction: Traumatic spinal cord injury is one of the most shocking injuries, that leaves consequences not only with the individual, but presents a huge economic burden for family and society. With the appropriate health care, the injury does not need to be terminal or prevent access to education, finding work, creating a family or to live a long, meaningful and productive life. Purpose: To compare the roles of occupational therapist in rehabilitation between the Slovenia and the Netherlands and what is the role in the process of transition from clinical to home environment. Furthermore, we want to explore individual's user experience with occupational therapy. Methods: Two semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed through a qualitative analysis. Inductive and deductive coding was used. The first was used to determine intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect individuals’ occupations and occupational performance. The second coding was used to analyse individual's and experience with occupational therapy. Findings were compared to those from the literature review. Searching engines DiKul, Google Scholar and DiZ were used. Results: There are no major differences between the occupational therapy treatments in Slovenia and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the rehabilitation lasts longer, mainly so the home environment can be adapted by the time the individual is dismissed from the clinic. By doing so, the need for additional treatments in the future reduces. In Slovenia, occupational therapists are no longer involved as soon as the person leaves the hospital. In the Netherlands however, occupational therapists help individuals’ transition to the home environment and visit them to discuss any additional modifications and to see whether those applied are in the individual's context. The user's experience is good in both countries but there is a crucial need for better psychological and informational support. Discussion and conclusion: The role of occupational therapist is similar yet quite different between the countries. The Netherlands have incomparably better economic and political regulations when it comes to the process of transitioning from clinical to home environment which also regulates the role of and occupational therapists. In Slovenia, the need for more specialists in this area is growing.
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