Table 2 Focus group schedule and the corresponding theoretical domains

1. Knowledge

• Can you tell me what you know about psychological care in the management of T2DM?

• Are you aware of the IDF guideline titled ‘Global Guideline for Type 2 Diabetes - Psychological Care’?

- If yes, what is your understanding of the recommendations?

- If no [description of the guideline and a copy of the guideline provided to participants]

2. Skills

• How do you usually deliver psychological care to patients with T2DM?

- Can you give a specific example of what aspects you deliver?

• What skill based training have you received in psychological care?

3. Social/professional role & identity

• What do you think about the relevance of this guideline in the context of CHCs in China?

• Do you think it is an appropriate part of your role to be following these recommendations?

4. Beliefs about capabilities

• How difficult or easy is it for you to provide psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• What problems have you encountered?

- What would help you to overcome these problems?

5. Optimism

• How confident are you that you can deliver the psychological care recommendations despite the difficulties?

• What do you think will happen if you do not routinely provide psychological care?

6. Beliefs about consequences

• What do you feel are the consequences of offering psychological care to patients with T2DM (prompt for advantages and disadvantages)?

7. Reinforcement

• How do incentives/rewards influence the delivery of psychological care to patients with T2DM?

- What incentives would enhance the delivery of psychological care?

8. Intentions

• Do you intend to deliver psychological care to patients with T2DM? (prompt for further explanation)

• Are there other things that interfere with your intentions to deliver psychological care recommendations to patients with T2DM?

9. Goals

• How much do you want to deliver the psychological care recommendations to patients with T2DM?

- In what situations would you want to deliver the recommendations?

10. Memory, attention and decision processes

• Do you think to deliver the psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• How much attention do you have to pay to deliver psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• What are your reasons for not offering psychological care to patients with T2DM? (prompt for attention, forgetting, time constraints, etc.)

11. Environmental context & resources

• To what extent do physical or resource factors facilitate or hinder you in delivering the psychological care recommendations to patients with T2DM?

• Are there competing tasks and time constraints that impact the delivery of psychological care recommendations to patients with T2DM?

• Do you have the necessary resources available to you to deliver psychological care recommendations to patients with T2DM?

12. Social influences

• To what extent do social influences of peers, CHC staff etc. facilitate or hinder you in delivering psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• Do you observe other peers and role models providing psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• How do the expectations of your patients and their families influence your provision of psychological care?

13. Emotion

• How do emotional factors influence whether psychological care recommendations are delivered to patients with T2DM?

• Does not providing psychological care evoke worry or concern in you?

14. Behavioural regulation

• Are there any procedures or ways of working that encourage or discourage providing psychological care to patients with T2DM?

• What do you think is needed to ensure the consistent delivery of psychological care to patients with T2DM?