Background
In recent years there has been a drive to encourage general practitioners to rationalise their prescribing. This process of rationalisation has implications for patients who may have their medication changed yet little attention has been paid to their views.

Objectives
The main objectives of the study were to:

1. Identify the different ways in which patients found out about changes to their medication
2. Assess patients' levels of satisfaction with:
   • how they found out about the proposed medication changes
   • the medication changes themselves
3. Identify factors that were associated with patients' satisfaction

Methods
We conducted a postal survey of 314 patients who had undergone a change in medication between October 1997 and January 1998. These patients were randomly selected from 13 practices that were involved in the Doncaster Prescriber Support Project. The questionnaire was designed to address the aims of the study and satisfaction was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were obtained using SPSS for Windows (Version 8.0). Data were then imported into LIMDEP (Version 7.0) for more detailed analysis.

Results
Approximately 2 in 3 patients were reasonably satisfied or very satisfied with the way in which they found out about their medication change. An even greater number (approximately 5 in 7) were reasonably or very satisfied with the new treatment itself. Patients' satisfaction with the way the change was implemented was positively associated with:

• being told by the GP, a practice pharmacist or by letter
• being told why the medication change was taking place
• the patient feeling that they had a choice in whether their medication was changed or not

Conclusion
We would suggest that if patients are to have their medication changed, the GP (or pharmacist) should either see the patient or send them an explanatory letter. They should also give the patient the choice of whether or not to undergo the medication change.