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Journal of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Online Early

Paracetamol-associated knowledge, attitudes and practices of the New Zealand public: an online survey

Samantha Marsh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8129-0350 1 * , Eeva-Katri Kumpula 2 , Sarah Hetrick 3 , Sarah Fortune 4
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- Author Affiliations

1 Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Building 507, 22-30 Park Avenue, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand.

2 National Poisons Centre, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

3 Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

4 Social and Community Health, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

* Correspondence to: sam.marsh@auckland.ac.nz

Handling Editor: Felicity Goodyear-Smith

Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC25060
Submitted: 7 April 2025  Accepted: 11 August 2025  Published: 5 September 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Although paracetamol is the most widely used prescription and over-the-counter drug globally, it also has a higher toxicity than other common non-opioid analgesics and is a leading preventable cause of acute liver failure and liver transplants. International evidence suggests that the public may have inadequate knowledge about paracetamol; however, in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), paracetamol is relatively cheap and readily available in large quantities at pharmacy and non-pharmacy outlets.

Aim

To identify paracetamol-associated knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of the NZ public.

Methods

Using Horizon Research Limited, a NZ-based research panel, we explored paracetamol-associated knowledge, attitudes and practices using an online survey.

Results

A total of 1723 respondents completed the survey. High rates of unintentional misuse of paracetamol were identified, in addition to significant knowledge gaps, particularly those related to participants’ ability to identify paracetamol-containing formulations. Participants were also supportive of introducing policies restricting the supply and sale of paracetamol, such as where paracetamol can be purchased.

Discussion

There appears to be a need to increase the NZ public’s knowledge of the safe use of paracetamol. Given the current lack of policies restricting access to paracetamol, the substantial proportion of the NZ adult population exceeding paracetamol dosing guidelines, and the public’s apparent support for introducing policies, our findings may have important implications. However, research is required to understand the potential impact of tightening current regulatory policies, including restricting where you can purchase paracetamol or reducing the amount of paracetamol you can purchase at once, before they are introduced.

Keywords: attitudes, consumer knowledge, harm reduction, health policy, medication misuse, medication safety, paracetamol, public health.

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