Abstract: Objective: To gain an in-depth understanding of the benefit-finding experiences of patients with diabetic foot ulcers based on the cognitive adaptation theory to provide a reference for the promotion of patients' mental health. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 14 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who attended a tertiary grade A hospital in Beijing from May 2023 to May 2024. Then semi-structured interviews were conducted to analyse and refine the themes using the Colaizzi 7-step analysis. Results: The interview data were collated, analysed and summarised to extract three themes and six sub-themes, i.e., exploring meaning (reflecting on recognising the disease, longing to return to normal life), gaining a sense of control (self-adjustment to maintain physical and mental balance, repeated groping for disease management), and self-enhancement (positive mindset leads to life transformation, confidence enhancement for future life planning). Conclusion: Patients with diabetic foot ulcers have multiple benefit-finding experiences. Therefore, healthcare professionals should pay attention to their benefit-finding experiences, strengthen the health education of the disease to reshape their disease cognition and help them better accept and cope with the disease, so as to promote the treatment and rehabilitation of the disease and enhance patients' physical and mental health.

Key words: diabetic foot ulcers; benefit finding; qualitative research; mental health; nursing care