OBJECTIVES: : The aim of this study was: a) to bring to light the health services utilization patterns of patients suffering from chronic diseases in Greece and b) to investigate the affordability of the households to use the services

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out between 01/02-30/06, 2016.The study sample consisted of 1,009 patients with chronic diseases (convenience sampling), residing in areas of the Northern and Western Greece. A structured questionnaire based on national and international literature with closed-ended questions was developed by the researchers to collect the data. The response rate was 90.1%. A pilot study and a test - retest reliability test was carried out among 52 patients (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.884).

RESULTS: Almost Nearly 40% of the respondents did not have the financial means to cope with health care costs A 30% reported that faced problems in taking their medications on a regular basis (as prescribed). Before the onset of the economic crisis, 88.8% used original/prototype medication, while at the moment only half of them are using original medicines, 24.8% get generic, and 24.2% get original and generic medicines. More than one third of the patients (35.3%) reduced the frequency of laboratory tests required to monitor the course of their treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of health care services and in the long run patients’ compliance to the management of their chronic disease is affected by the socio-economic conditions.