Table 2 Patient’s themes, sub-themes, and extracts of patients 'sayings

Perspectives regarding the intervention

Knowledge about the intervention

TG1: I have never heard about it (Male, aged 49)

TG2: I did not know about these sessions (Male, aged 43)

Usefulness

TG1: I think it is helpful because sometimes the disease is in the mind (Male, aged 62)

TG2: Patients get other psychological disposition to face the disease (Male, aged 66)

Interest in further sessions

TG1: If it was possible to receive more (sessions), I would attend more (Male, aged 49)

TG2: At the time, I said that I would like to have more because, at that time, it was only four (sessions) (Female, aged 55)

Home practice

TG1: I started trying to do at home what I was doing here (Male, aged 49)

Improvement suggestions

TG1: If it (the intervention) was included in the consultation, it would help to reduce stress (Male, aged 49)

TG2: Sessions should be once a week so that relaxation could last longer (Female, aged 55)

Intervention effectiveness

Physical changes

TG1: Because I think it started to heal a little bit more with the relaxation (Male, aged 49)

TG2: I will be honest, while I had the four sessions, it (the wound) improved a lot, a lot (Male, aged 47)

Behavioural changes

TG1: I had the wound, came here for consultations, and since then I stopped drinking (Male, aged 62)

TG2: For example, in the afternoon I was sitting and, when she (her daughter) got home, she would do all the household chores (Female, aged 55)

Psychological changes

TG1: Psychologically, I am better and I believe the wound is going to heal (Male, aged 80)

TG2: After sessions, you feel more peaceful and more confident (Male, aged 47)

Interpersonal changes

TlG1: I was not so aggressive in my daily life. I should say less demanding, and more benevolent at home (Male, aged 80)

TG2: For example, I was not so nervous with the kids. I think I was more patient with the kids (Female, aged 55)

Duration of perceived effects

TG1: For example, when I left sessions, I was calmer for two or three days (Male, aged 49)

TG2: Over two or three weeks, because over two or three weeks period I thought a lot about what was said during sessions (Male, aged 47)

Perceived importance of psychology in the DFU treatment

Importance of psychology

TG1: As in all things, the psychological dimension is very important because, if we crash and lose heart, things get worse (Male, aged 80)

TG2: The psychological dimension is very important for things to evolve (Male, aged 66)

Psychology related bias

TG1: In my youth, there was this idea that “I do not need a psychologist, I am not crazy” (Male, aged 80)

Emotions and consequences associated with DFUs

Fear

TG1: I was really scared. I never thought this would heal. I  was really afraid (Male, aged 62)

TG2: I did not know if it was going to get better or worse, if they had to cut my foot. Today, I am still afraid of that because here they do not inform us of anything (Male, aged 43)

Sadness

TG1: Because, when I dwelt on that I was bad, I got worse. Really worse. I could not go shopping, I really could not do anything (Male, aged 62)

Revulsion

TG1: I was disgusted, anguished… I already am an outraged person (Male, aged 49)

Impossibility to work

TG1: And I worked, I never stopped working (Male, aged 62)

TG2: I felt good for a long time  after sessions. Yet, I did a lot of work considering I was a woman with a wounded foot (Female, aged 55)