Table 5 Factor loading, Cronbach alpha and Percentage of variance explained emerged from the EFA

25… shares his/her passions (e.g., sewing, board games, etc.) with me

0.825

0.045

0.104

− 0.086

− 0.056

22… takes walks with me

0.799

0.106

− 0.058

0.115

− 0.004

26… reads aloud to me

0.792

− 0.012

0.192

− 0.123

− 0.001

21… is available to speak by video calls

0.774

0.073

− 0.233

0.030

0.180

20… keeps me company at home after discharge

0.717

0.006

− 0.112

0.160

0.189

32… helps me to organise my free time

0.680

0.166

0.099

− 0.056

0.086

27… helps me with me with the household chores

0.663

− 0.064

0.150

0.182

0.010

15… takes me to cultural and recreational events

0.657

0.067

0.200

0.203

− 0.212

16… teaches me how to use laptop, tablet or smartphone

0.596

0.047

0.191

0.154

− 0.012

8… keeps me company at home

0.572

0.026

− 0.152

0.424

0.157

14… helps me with online activities when I’m at home (e.g., laptop, tablet or smartphone, communicate with other people, use technological platform, etc.)

0.490

0.064

0.222

0.235

− 0.021

17… makes me lunch when I’m not well

0.484

0.098

0.325

0.131

0.052

30… comes with me to do grocery shopping

0.478

0.073

0.106

0.318

0.093

29. keeps me company in the evenings

0.461

0.169

0.124

0.194

0.179

11… suggests me who can help me economically

0.314

− 0.073

0.241

0.159

0.203

6… gives me information at the entrance of the hospital

− 0.179

0.945

− 0.043

0.091

− 0.087

23… greets me when I arrive at the hospital

0.007

0.814

0.022

− 0.015

− 0.048

24… helps me understand my doctor’s directions better

0.224

0.671

0.002

− 0.069

0.111

31… helps me to understand my rights as a patient

0.136

0.583

0.114

0.029

0.070

10… helps me to buy materials suggested by doctors (e.g., bras, colostomy bags, etc.)

0.112

0.550

0.111

0.022

0.039

4… accompanies me to check ups or treatments when I am at the hospital

0.055

0.410

− 0.049

0.312

0.249

13… helps my relatives to orient themselves outside the hospital

0.003

0.153

0.704

0.102

0.075

12… helps my relatives to find accommodation

0.110

0.034

0.678

0.052

0.140

18… helps me to care for the children when I’m not well

0.389

0.050

0.409

0.027

0.207

19… carries out little errands for my relatives when I can’t (e.g., go to the post office, grocery shopping, etc.)

0.270

0.060

0.356

0.323

0.000

5… comes to my house and takes me to check ups or treatments

0.033

0.125

0.012

0.682

0.173

3…. shop for groceries when I need it

0.085

0.037

0.182

0.658

0.077

7… carries out little errands (e.g., to go to the post office or the pharmacy, to go and buy the newspaper, to take the dog for a walk, etc.)

0.221

0.145

0.205

0.584

− 0.063

2… encourages my relatives about my state of physical and psychological health when I can’t meet them

− 0.082

− 0.090

0.121

0.138

0.696

28… gives me emotional support

0.231

0.414

0.079

− 0.241

0.475

1… keeps me company during hospitalisation

0.069

0.260

0.073

− 0.038

0.431

9… listens to me when I need it

0.326

0.157

− 0.181

0.131

0.395

Cronbach Alpha

0.969

0.881

0.857

0.892

0.751

Percentage of variance explained

52.41

6.28

3.17

2.96

2.20