Ab1599-HPR Perceptions of Health Services Users on the Management of Chronic Diseases in the Primary Health Care System in Thessaloniki Greece

Background: A strong primary health care (PHC) is the foundation of a health system that is effective, efficient, and responsive to patients' needs. Although under-appreciated, PHC can manage chronic diseases (such as rheumatic diseases and their comorbidities such as hypertension, thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus) and generate benefits for the whole health care system. Good performance means lower healthcare costs overall and a greater focus on quality and achieving optimal health outcomes. However, old operating models and habits can hold it back, having an impact on the overall health system. Objectives: The aim of this research was to bring forth the perceptions of Health Services Users (HUS) with RMDs diseases primarily, who use the PHC services for the management of their chronic disease and, at the same time, to make suggestions from the users' perspective so that they can be used in future public education activities planning to improve the cost effectiveness of PHC. Methods: The survey followed a qualitative methodology, which is appropriate for exploring perceptions, attitudes, and opinions of the participants. Through purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 15 HSUs registered in Local Health Units in Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia. Thematic content analysis was performed for data analysis. Results: Three main themes emerged from the analysis: a) HSUs think that in PHC they only contact their GPs; b) chronic disease management is basically equivalent to prescribing and issuing referrals for tests; and c) lack of health literacy was prominent. HSUs do not adequately understand how PHC works. Conclusion: PHC seems to be underestimated by HSUs in terms of the total services provided and therefore chronic disease management is not carried out in an integrated and multidisciplinary manner. The absence of health literacy prevents HSUs from fully understanding what PHC can offer and make the best use of all types of services. The results of the survey provide an impetus for designing information and education activities to highlight the extroverted profile of multidisciplinary healthcare teams in the community. REFERENCES: [1] Savoy, M., FAAFP, FABC, CPE, CMQ, FAAPL, Hazlett-O'Brien, C., & Rapacciuolo, J. (2017). The Role of Primary Care Physicians in Managing Chronic Disease. Delaware journal of public health, 3(1), 86–93. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2017.03.012. [2] Papp, R., Borbas, I., Dobos, E., Bredehorst, M., Jaruseviciene, L., Vehko, T., & Balogh, S. (2014). Perceptions of quality in primary health care: perspectives of patients and professionals based on focus group discussions. BMC family practice, 15, 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-15-128. [3] Tatsioni, A., Karathanos, V., & Missiou, A. (2015). Management of patients with multiple diseases in primary health care [Chapter]. In Tatsioni, A., Karathanos, V., & Missiou, A. 2015. Introduction to general medicine [Undergraduate textbook]. Kallipos, Open Academic Publications.https://hdl.handle.net/11419/3817 (GREEK). Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge the 3rd Health Prefecture of Central Macedonia that gave us the license do to this study and all the participants who gave the interviews. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.