Impact of Educational Levels and Health Literacy on Community Acetaminophen Knowledge

J Pharm Pract. 2015 Dec;28(6):499-503. doi: 10.1177/0897190014544819. Epub 2014 Aug 11.

Abstract

Patient understanding of acetaminophen is important for its safe and appropriate self-use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area to determine the impact of educational level, patient health literacy score, and other demographic characteristics on acetaminophen knowledge. A 17-item, in-person, paper-and-pen questionnaire containing questions about demographics and acetaminophen knowledge was administered to 311 adults outside 5 local grocery stores in varying socioeconomic communities. Knowledge assessed was whether Tylenol-McNeil contains acetaminophen, maximum daily dose, and primary organ affected by toxicity. Participant health literacy was evaluated using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form (REALM-SF) test. Of the 300 who successfully completed the study, only 3.8% of all subjects were able to answer all 3 acetaminophen knowledge questions correctly regardless of educational level or health literacy score. This reaffirms that a lack of appropriate acetaminophen knowledge remains present in the general population, and further efforts to educate patients will be needed to prevent adverse events.

Keywords: acetaminophen; educational level; health literacy; patient education.

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Acetaminophen