Table 5.

Acceptability and feasibility of the modified techniques: selected quotes and overall descriptive themes from Study 2.

Themes	Sample quotes
The techniques themselves are user-friendly	I can slot straight into it [using the techniques] now, even without the person on the DVD… I find the more you do it, the easier it gets to do. (CA6, Female, 63) Yes, think they are easy and simple. You don’t have to move I can just sit there…I can just sit like I would watching TV, turn the DVD on and I don’t need to concentrate on doing anything whilst I am sitting. (SH4, Male, 75) The way it [the tailored techniques] was put over was very good… cause it gave you a selection for you to choose from. If you didn’t like one you could try another sort of thing. (CA1, Male, 70) I don’t make the time… I’m always on the go so I never get time to. (ST2, Female, 45)
Difficult to practice so often	It doesn’t sound much when you say 15 min, twice a day, but actually sitting down to do it and getting yourself ready makes it take longer… And it was only when I had done it so many times, with the difficulty of fitting it in around all the other stuff, that I felt confident enough [to practice]. (BR4, Female, 67, with communication difficulties) He (BR5, Male, 53, with communication difficulties) was fairly overwhelmed with the instruction to try and practice the techniques twice a day, five times a week... If it had been the case of practicing once a day, he may have been more motivated to practice. (BR5′s carer, conversation during telephone follow-up)
Practicing these techniques are beneficial and useful	It’s been very beneficial and I feel a lot calmer as a result. It has also improved my confidence … It helps take your mind away and just be calm. (CA6) Since I’ve been making the time to relax it does calm me down when I get worked up about the stroke and things. (ST3, Female, 46) Well, when I feel stressed that is when I don’t feel very confident. So like what I was telling you about my car and the garage and the money I had to pay earlier that stressed me. The breathing one [Breath watch] I find easy to do on the spot, breathing and watching myself breathe calmed me down then I could call back the garage and check I had got the right price in my head… (SH4) The breathing technique is particularly good especially before going to sleep at a night, helps ‘get off quicker’ … (LI3, Male, 62)
Intention to keep using the techniques in future	Yes, yes I think so yes. Maybe not as often as I am now but I will keep doing it yes because I’m doing it every day at the moment. But I definitely shall. (CA6) I probably wouldn’t do it as often… it’s all about organizing your life and now like, obviously I am starting my own business I’ll also allow myself time to do other things like relax… because it really does help to do relaxation, I think it’s one of those supportive things that brings everything to a level. (ST3) I should be doing relaxation. Yeah, I will carry on using them [techniques]. (ST7, Female, 55)