An acetaminophen icon helps reduce medication decision errors in an experimental setting.

Objectives: To assess the effect of adding an acetaminophen ingredient icon to acetaminophen medication labels on consumer decision making about concomitant use of acetaminophen medications to avoid overdose, which is associated with liver injury.

Design: Parallel-group randomized study.

Setting: Consumer research facilities in Indianapolis, Baltimore, and Los Angeles.

Testing of Candidate Icons to Identify Acetaminophen-Containing Medicines.

Adding icons on labels of acetaminophen-containing medicines could help users identify the active ingredient and avoid concomitant use of multiple medicines containing acetaminophen. We evaluated five icons for communication effectiveness. Adults ( = 300) were randomized to view a prescription container label or over-the-counter labels with either one or two icons.

Pharmacist and Physician Interpretation of Abbreviations for Acetaminophen Intended for Use in a Consumer Icon.

Concomitant use of multiple acetaminophen medications is associated with overdose. To help patients identify acetaminophen medications and thus avoid concomitant use, an icon with an abbreviation for "acetaminophen" has been proposed for all acetaminophen medications. This study assessed pharmacists' and physicians' use and interpretation of abbreviations for "acetaminophen", to identify abbreviations with other meanings that might cause confusion.