Loading…
Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences
Ear syringing is a common procedure performed for a variety of symptoms in primary care. Reports of its effectiveness vary considerably and no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed. To estimate the effect of ear syringing on hearing thresholds and on symptoms leading to ear syringi...
Saved in:
| Published in: | British journal of general practice 2002-11, Vol.52 (484), p.906-911 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| cited_by | |
|---|---|
| cites | |
| container_end_page | 911 |
| container_issue | 484 |
| container_start_page | 906 |
| container_title | British journal of general practice |
| container_volume | 52 |
| creator | Memel, David Langley, Carole Watkins, Chris Laue, Barbara Birchall, Martin Bachmann, Max |
| description | Ear syringing is a common procedure performed for a variety of symptoms in primary care. Reports of its effectiveness vary considerably and no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed.
To estimate the effect of ear syringing on hearing thresholds and on symptoms leading to ear syringing in general practice.
Randomised single-blind controlled trial. Before-and-after self-assessments of symptoms.
Patients from three general practices in the Bristol area attending twice-weekly clinics dedicated to ear syringing over a 12-week period.
Patients were randomly assigned to have their hearing tested before and after ear syringing, or twice before ear syringing. Changes in hearing threshold were measured by pure tone audiometry (PTA). All patients completed sef-assessment forms of symptoms using Likert scales before, and one week after, ear syringing.
Hearing threshold improved by 10 dB or more in 34% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21% to 47%) of the intervention group and 1.6% of control group (number needed to treat = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.2 to 5.2, P |
| format | article |
| fullrecord | <record><control><sourceid>proquest_pubme</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_1314442</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><sourcerecordid>72678255</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-p294t-958803de01ff2ba9ee26c841502d4016886a67af52eaf565399aae77811c6f553</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNp9kU1LAzEQhveg2Fr9C5KTPRXytdmNB0FK_YCCFz0v0-ykRrfJmmyL_nuDVtGLMMwMvC8vzzAHxZhqRWdMSTEqjlN6ppRzxehRMWJcCqlLPS5eFtaiGdwOPaZEgiUIkaT36Pw6F3GerLMUoSN9hGw0eEGARPBt2LiELTHBDzF0XV6H6LIvS6SHwaEf0pTgW48x7wbTSXFooUt4up-T4vF68TC_nS3vb-7mV8tZz7UcZrqsaypapMxavgKNyJWpJSspbyVlqq4VqApsyTE3VQqtAbCqasaMsmUpJsXlV26_XW2wNRkk8zd9dBuI700A1_xVvHtq1mHXMMGklDwHTPcBMbxuMQ1NPtVg14HHsE1NpSSrqBQsO8__d3JV1fyT6ew30w_M9yfEB_PVhjg</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Open Access Repository</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>72678255</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences</title><source>Open Access: PubMed Central</source><creator>Memel, David ; Langley, Carole ; Watkins, Chris ; Laue, Barbara ; Birchall, Martin ; Bachmann, Max</creator><creatorcontrib>Memel, David ; Langley, Carole ; Watkins, Chris ; Laue, Barbara ; Birchall, Martin ; Bachmann, Max</creatorcontrib><description>Ear syringing is a common procedure performed for a variety of symptoms in primary care. Reports of its effectiveness vary considerably and no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed.
To estimate the effect of ear syringing on hearing thresholds and on symptoms leading to ear syringing in general practice.
Randomised single-blind controlled trial. Before-and-after self-assessments of symptoms.
Patients from three general practices in the Bristol area attending twice-weekly clinics dedicated to ear syringing over a 12-week period.
Patients were randomly assigned to have their hearing tested before and after ear syringing, or twice before ear syringing. Changes in hearing threshold were measured by pure tone audiometry (PTA). All patients completed sef-assessment forms of symptoms using Likert scales before, and one week after, ear syringing.
Hearing threshold improved by 10 dB or more in 34% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21% to 47%) of the intervention group and 1.6% of control group (number needed to treat = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.2 to 5.2, P<0.001). The levels of improvement in the intervention group ranged between 15 dB and 36 dB. The symptoms that most commonly improved included hearing on the phone, pain, a feeling of blocked ears, and hearing one-to-one. There was a strong relationship between the change thresholds, as measure using PTA, and self-reports of hearing improvement. Secondary analysis was unable to identify predictors of objectively measured improvement.
Ear syringing improved hearing threshold in a substantial proportion of patients. An even larger proportion reported an improvement in symptoms. It was not possible to predict which patients would benefit.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0960-1643</identifier><identifier>PMID: 12434959</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>England</publisher><subject>Adult ; Aged ; Auditory Threshold ; Cerumen ; England ; Family Practice - standards ; Female ; Hearing Loss - rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Single-Blind Method ; Syringes ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Treatment Outcome</subject><ispartof>British journal of general practice, 2002-11, Vol.52 (484), p.906-911</ispartof><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktopdf>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1314442/pdf/$$EPDF$$P50$$Gpubmedcentral$$H</linktopdf><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1314442/$$EHTML$$P50$$Gpubmedcentral$$H</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>230,314,727,780,784,885,53791,53793</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12434959$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Memel, David</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Langley, Carole</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Watkins, Chris</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Laue, Barbara</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Birchall, Martin</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bachmann, Max</creatorcontrib><title>Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences</title><title>British journal of general practice</title><addtitle>Br J Gen Pract</addtitle><description>Ear syringing is a common procedure performed for a variety of symptoms in primary care. Reports of its effectiveness vary considerably and no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed.
To estimate the effect of ear syringing on hearing thresholds and on symptoms leading to ear syringing in general practice.
Randomised single-blind controlled trial. Before-and-after self-assessments of symptoms.
Patients from three general practices in the Bristol area attending twice-weekly clinics dedicated to ear syringing over a 12-week period.
Patients were randomly assigned to have their hearing tested before and after ear syringing, or twice before ear syringing. Changes in hearing threshold were measured by pure tone audiometry (PTA). All patients completed sef-assessment forms of symptoms using Likert scales before, and one week after, ear syringing.
Hearing threshold improved by 10 dB or more in 34% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21% to 47%) of the intervention group and 1.6% of control group (number needed to treat = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.2 to 5.2, P<0.001). The levels of improvement in the intervention group ranged between 15 dB and 36 dB. The symptoms that most commonly improved included hearing on the phone, pain, a feeling of blocked ears, and hearing one-to-one. There was a strong relationship between the change thresholds, as measure using PTA, and self-reports of hearing improvement. Secondary analysis was unable to identify predictors of objectively measured improvement.
Ear syringing improved hearing threshold in a substantial proportion of patients. An even larger proportion reported an improvement in symptoms. It was not possible to predict which patients would benefit.</description><subject>Adult</subject><subject>Aged</subject><subject>Auditory Threshold</subject><subject>Cerumen</subject><subject>England</subject><subject>Family Practice - standards</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Hearing Loss - rehabilitation</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Middle Aged</subject><subject>Single-Blind Method</subject><subject>Syringes</subject><subject>Therapeutic Irrigation</subject><subject>Treatment Outcome</subject><issn>0960-1643</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2002</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNp9kU1LAzEQhveg2Fr9C5KTPRXytdmNB0FK_YCCFz0v0-ykRrfJmmyL_nuDVtGLMMwMvC8vzzAHxZhqRWdMSTEqjlN6ppRzxehRMWJcCqlLPS5eFtaiGdwOPaZEgiUIkaT36Pw6F3GerLMUoSN9hGw0eEGARPBt2LiELTHBDzF0XV6H6LIvS6SHwaEf0pTgW48x7wbTSXFooUt4up-T4vF68TC_nS3vb-7mV8tZz7UcZrqsaypapMxavgKNyJWpJSspbyVlqq4VqApsyTE3VQqtAbCqasaMsmUpJsXlV26_XW2wNRkk8zd9dBuI700A1_xVvHtq1mHXMMGklDwHTPcBMbxuMQ1NPtVg14HHsE1NpSSrqBQsO8__d3JV1fyT6ew30w_M9yfEB_PVhjg</recordid><startdate>200211</startdate><enddate>200211</enddate><creator>Memel, David</creator><creator>Langley, Carole</creator><creator>Watkins, Chris</creator><creator>Laue, Barbara</creator><creator>Birchall, Martin</creator><creator>Bachmann, Max</creator><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>7X8</scope><scope>ASE</scope><scope>FPQ</scope><scope>K6X</scope><scope>5PM</scope></search><sort><creationdate>200211</creationdate><title>Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences</title><author>Memel, David ; Langley, Carole ; Watkins, Chris ; Laue, Barbara ; Birchall, Martin ; Bachmann, Max</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-p294t-958803de01ff2ba9ee26c841502d4016886a67af52eaf565399aae77811c6f553</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2002</creationdate><topic>Adult</topic><topic>Aged</topic><topic>Auditory Threshold</topic><topic>Cerumen</topic><topic>England</topic><topic>Family Practice - standards</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Hearing Loss - rehabilitation</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Middle Aged</topic><topic>Single-Blind Method</topic><topic>Syringes</topic><topic>Therapeutic Irrigation</topic><topic>Treatment Outcome</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Memel, David</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Langley, Carole</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Watkins, Chris</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Laue, Barbara</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Birchall, Martin</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Bachmann, Max</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><collection>British Nursing Index</collection><collection>British Nursing Index (BNI) (1985 to Present)</collection><collection>British Nursing Index</collection><collection>PubMed Central (Full Participant titles)</collection><jtitle>British journal of general practice</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Memel, David</au><au>Langley, Carole</au><au>Watkins, Chris</au><au>Laue, Barbara</au><au>Birchall, Martin</au><au>Bachmann, Max</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences</atitle><jtitle>British journal of general practice</jtitle><addtitle>Br J Gen Pract</addtitle><date>2002-11</date><risdate>2002</risdate><volume>52</volume><issue>484</issue><spage>906</spage><epage>911</epage><pages>906-911</pages><issn>0960-1643</issn><abstract>Ear syringing is a common procedure performed for a variety of symptoms in primary care. Reports of its effectiveness vary considerably and no randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been performed.
To estimate the effect of ear syringing on hearing thresholds and on symptoms leading to ear syringing in general practice.
Randomised single-blind controlled trial. Before-and-after self-assessments of symptoms.
Patients from three general practices in the Bristol area attending twice-weekly clinics dedicated to ear syringing over a 12-week period.
Patients were randomly assigned to have their hearing tested before and after ear syringing, or twice before ear syringing. Changes in hearing threshold were measured by pure tone audiometry (PTA). All patients completed sef-assessment forms of symptoms using Likert scales before, and one week after, ear syringing.
Hearing threshold improved by 10 dB or more in 34% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21% to 47%) of the intervention group and 1.6% of control group (number needed to treat = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.2 to 5.2, P<0.001). The levels of improvement in the intervention group ranged between 15 dB and 36 dB. The symptoms that most commonly improved included hearing on the phone, pain, a feeling of blocked ears, and hearing one-to-one. There was a strong relationship between the change thresholds, as measure using PTA, and self-reports of hearing improvement. Secondary analysis was unable to identify predictors of objectively measured improvement.
Ear syringing improved hearing threshold in a substantial proportion of patients. An even larger proportion reported an improvement in symptoms. It was not possible to predict which patients would benefit.</abstract><cop>England</cop><pmid>12434959</pmid><tpages>6</tpages></addata></record> |
| fulltext | fulltext |
| identifier | ISSN: 0960-1643 |
| ispartof | British journal of general practice, 2002-11, Vol.52 (484), p.906-911 |
| issn | 0960-1643 |
| language | eng |
| recordid | cdi_pubmedcentral_primary_oai_pubmedcentral_nih_gov_1314442 |
| source | Open Access: PubMed Central |
| subjects | Adult Aged Auditory Threshold Cerumen England Family Practice - standards Female Hearing Loss - rehabilitation Humans Male Middle Aged Single-Blind Method Syringes Therapeutic Irrigation Treatment Outcome |
| title | Effectiveness of ear syringing in general practice: a randomised controlled trial and patients' experiences |
| url | http://sfxeu10.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/loughborough?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-05T00%3A04%3A04IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_pubme&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Effectiveness%20of%20ear%20syringing%20in%20general%20practice:%20a%20randomised%20controlled%20trial%20and%20patients'%20experiences&rft.jtitle=British%20journal%20of%20general%20practice&rft.au=Memel,%20David&rft.date=2002-11&rft.volume=52&rft.issue=484&rft.spage=906&rft.epage=911&rft.pages=906-911&rft.issn=0960-1643&rft_id=info:doi/&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_pubme%3E72678255%3C/proquest_pubme%3E%3Cgrp_id%3Ecdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-p294t-958803de01ff2ba9ee26c841502d4016886a67af52eaf565399aae77811c6f553%3C/grp_id%3E%3Coa%3E%3C/oa%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=72678255&rft_id=info:pmid/12434959&rfr_iscdi=true |