Managing earwax in primary care: efficacy of self-treatment using a bulb syringe
Managing earwax in primary care: efficacy of self-treatment using a bulb syringe
Background: irrigating ears to remove wax is a time-consuming procedure in UK primary care. In many other countries bulb syringes are used for self-clearance of earwax but evidence of their effectiveness is lacking.
Aim: to compare the effectiveness of self-treatment bulb syringes with routine care. Design of study Open, randomised, controlled trial. Setting Seven practices in Hampshire, UK.
Method: participants were 237 patients attending their GP or practice nurse with symptomatic occluding earwax. A further 128 patients did not want to be part of the randomisation but allowed their data to be analysed. Patients randomised to intervention (n = 118) were given ear drops, a bulb syringe, and instructions on its use. Patients in the control group (n = 119) received ear drops, followed by ear irrigation by the GP or practice nurse. Main outcome measures were symptoms (on a 7-point scale), wax clearance, need for further treatment, and the acceptability of treatment.
Results: comparing patients using the bulb syringe with those treated with conventional irrigation, the change in mean symptom score was -0.81 and -1.26 respectively (difference -0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.11 to -0.79) and, regarding the proportion requiring no further irrigation, 51 % and 69% respectively. Although irrigation was preferred by more patients, most patients using the bulb syringe would use it again (75% versus 100%) and were satisfied with treatment (71 % versus 99%).
Conclusions: advising patients with ears blocked by wax to try bulb syringing before irrigation is effective and acceptable, and could significantly reduce the use of NHS resources
irrigation, design, practitioners, primary-care, england, treatment, london, cerumen, patients, adult, ear canal, trial, family practice, controlled-trial, time, surgery, symptoms
44-49
Coppin, Richard
2a2636a3-05e2-4852-89a1-3bedf7e7a176
Wicke, Dorothy
5403fc6b-b987-4717-a4f3-936d31952e1e
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
January 2008
Coppin, Richard
2a2636a3-05e2-4852-89a1-3bedf7e7a176
Wicke, Dorothy
5403fc6b-b987-4717-a4f3-936d31952e1e
Little, Paul
1bf2d1f7-200c-47a5-ab16-fe5a8756a777
Coppin, Richard, Wicke, Dorothy and Little, Paul
(2008)
Managing earwax in primary care: efficacy of self-treatment using a bulb syringe.
British Journal of General Practice, 58 (546), .
(doi:10.3399/bjgp08X263811).
Abstract
Background: irrigating ears to remove wax is a time-consuming procedure in UK primary care. In many other countries bulb syringes are used for self-clearance of earwax but evidence of their effectiveness is lacking.
Aim: to compare the effectiveness of self-treatment bulb syringes with routine care. Design of study Open, randomised, controlled trial. Setting Seven practices in Hampshire, UK.
Method: participants were 237 patients attending their GP or practice nurse with symptomatic occluding earwax. A further 128 patients did not want to be part of the randomisation but allowed their data to be analysed. Patients randomised to intervention (n = 118) were given ear drops, a bulb syringe, and instructions on its use. Patients in the control group (n = 119) received ear drops, followed by ear irrigation by the GP or practice nurse. Main outcome measures were symptoms (on a 7-point scale), wax clearance, need for further treatment, and the acceptability of treatment.
Results: comparing patients using the bulb syringe with those treated with conventional irrigation, the change in mean symptom score was -0.81 and -1.26 respectively (difference -0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.11 to -0.79) and, regarding the proportion requiring no further irrigation, 51 % and 69% respectively. Although irrigation was preferred by more patients, most patients using the bulb syringe would use it again (75% versus 100%) and were satisfied with treatment (71 % versus 99%).
Conclusions: advising patients with ears blocked by wax to try bulb syringing before irrigation is effective and acceptable, and could significantly reduce the use of NHS resources
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More information
Published date: January 2008
Keywords:
irrigation, design, practitioners, primary-care, england, treatment, london, cerumen, patients, adult, ear canal, trial, family practice, controlled-trial, time, surgery, symptoms
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 61740
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/61740
ISSN: 0960-1643
PURE UUID: 0be9f4e5-dadd-4127-914a-c8b351bbcaa0
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Date deposited: 09 Sep 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:28
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Author:
Richard Coppin
Author:
Dorothy Wicke
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