gospodarevskaya-earwax-2011.pdf (177.28 kB)
Ear wax removal interventions : a systematic review and economic evaluation
journal contribution
posted on 2011-10-01, 00:00 authored by E Loveman, Elena GospodarevskayaElena Gospodarevskaya, A Clegg, J Bryant, P Harris, A Bird, D Scott, P Davidson, P Little, R CoppinExcessive ear wax can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, itching, vertigo, and pain. Treatment to remove ear wax is generally carried out in primary care, and recent estimates suggest that up to 2 million ear irrigations are performed in England and Wales each year.1 This places a considerable demand on GP surgeries. A range of simple and often inexpensive remedies and proprietary drops can be used either to dissipate the wax orsoften it prior to removal. Although removal through irrigation usually occurs in primary care, some people may self-treat. Treatments offered often appear to be based on custom and local practice, rather than an awareness of the comparative effectiveness and costs of the different alternatives. Although evidence on the efficacy of different treatments has been published, no study has examined both clinical and cost-effectiveness. This report summarises a systematic review and economic evaluation of different approaches to ear wax removal taken from a UK perspective.
History
Journal
British journal of general practiceVolume
61Issue
591Pagination
680 - 683Publisher
Royal College of General PractitionersLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1478-5242Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, British journal of general practiceUsage metrics
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