Health literacy as controversy: an online community's discussion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acetaminophen recommendations.

Adults in the United States increasingly use the Internet for health information, and online discussions can provide insights into public perceptions of health issues. The purpose of this project was to investigate public perceptions of issues related to health literacy, within the context of a conversation about recommendations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, driven by concerns about acetaminophen-related liver injuries due in part to health literacy issues. The discussion took place July 2-8, 2009, on a technology/science blog and included 625 comments. Participants debated the risks and benefits of acetaminophen, and most believed responsibility for taking medication safely falls on consumers. Some were implicitly aware of issues related to health literacy and its relationship to patient outcomes; most felt improved education is all that is needed, whereas others acknowledged that health information is confusing--particularly for the elderly and sick. Recommendations for future research into public perceptions of health literacy are discussed.