Objective:

to determine the psychometric properties of Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey with the application of the Rasch model, in a sample of family caregivers of Bucaramanga.

Material and method:

The study corresponds to a diagnostic technologies assessment-type methodological study. A total of 104 caregivers relatives of people with chronic diseases in the city of Bucaramanga, were evaluated during the months of October and December 2014 using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. The psychometric characteristics of the survey were analyzed using the Rasch model.

Results:

It was found that the set of 19 items showed unidimensionality. All items presented positive polarity. The adjustment statistics showed that items A2: Someone to help me when I have to rest in bed; A8: Someone to give me information to help me understand a situation; and item A11: Someone with whom I can relax, presented slight mismatch to the model.

Conclusions:

the instrument has adequate psychometric properties from the perspective of the Rasch model. However, to be applied in family caregivers relatives of people with chronic diseases, it is desirable to add more items that address other important aspects of social support, such as the support provided by health personnel.

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