Table 1

Themes and subthemes emerging from the interviews

Category	Themes/subthemes identified within this category
Patient-related factors	Sociodemographic factors Demographic factors Overweight/obesity Blood glucose level Blood pressure Smoking Social factors Number of people at home Help at home with medicines Religious practices such as fasting and pilgrimage interfering with taking medicines Lifestyle-related factors Physical activity Patients lifestyle in relation to exercise Daily exercise Lack of time for exercise Lack of facilities for exercise No motivation towards exercise Perception of daily activities as exercise Social/cultural restrictions Diet Regular/irregular meals Overeating due to food craving or social gatherings Awareness of diet importance Types and availability of meals Smoking Healthcare system-related factors Healthcare system Ease of access to healthcare system Patient satisfaction with healthcare system Availability of medicines Affordability of healthcare service (type of provider) Relationship with healthcare providers Education time and quality Counselling and support Lack of trust in healthcare professionals Understanding of instructions from healthcare providers Communication barriers
Clinical (condition-) related factors	Knowledge about condition Knowledge about CVD/DM Denial of condition considering it a lifestyle factor Underestimating the severity of the condition Fear of condition Perception that the condition is from God Perception of experience with the disease Effects of condition Social life Diet Medicine intake Control over condition/symptoms Management of condition Fluctuation of blood pressure/blood glucose level Control over blood pressure/blood glucose level Fear of hypoglycaemia/hypertension Comorbidities Number of comorbidities Unacceptance of comorbidities
Medicine-related factors	Knowledge about medicines Knowledge about medicine effects and side effects Knowledge of medicine names and doses Fear of side effects Belief in alternative and natural therapies (fear of medicines being toxic chemicals) Belief that exercise can control the condition (replace medicines) Belief that diet can control the condition (replace medicines) Medicine intake Number of medicines Ease of use of medicines Difficulty in medicine intake Forgetfulness to take medicines Follow-up of instructions in relation to medicine intake Refusal to take medicines Not taking medicines because of fasting

CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus.