Gap finder
Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
806 questions in 76 reviews · ENT
current versionsNo studies 293 · 36.4%Ungraded 6 · 0.7%Very low 244 · 30.3%Low 170 · 21.1%Moderate 85 · 10.5%High 8 · 1%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Combination hearing aid vs hearing aid Significant adverse effect: increase in self‐reported tinnitus loudness · adults with subjective idiopathic tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Combination hearing aid vs hearing aid Depressive symptoms or depression as measured by a validated instrument · adults with subjective idiopathic tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Combination hearing aid vs hearing aid Anxiety symptoms or generalised anxiety as measured by a validated instrument · adults with subjective idiopathic tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Combination hearing aid vs hearing aid Health‐related quality of life as measured by a validated instrument · adults with subjective idiopathic tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Combination hearing aid vs hearing aid Adverse effects associated with wearing the device (such as pain, discomfort, tenderness or skin irritation, or ear infections) · adults with subjective idiopathic tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Tinnitus symptom severity · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 91 participants | Low |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Tinnitus symptom severity · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 91 participants | Low |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Significant adverse effect: increase in self‐reported tinnitus loudness · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Depressive symptoms or depression as measured by a validated instrument · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Anxiety symptoms or generalised anxiety as measured by a validated instrument · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Health‐related quality of life as measured by a validated instrument · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator Adverse effects associated with wearing the device (such as pain, discomfort, tenderness or skin irritation, or ear infections) · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Hearing aid vs sound generator CI: confidence interval · adults with tinnitus Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus (2018) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Pain postoperative day 1 № of participants: 538 (6 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Pain postoperative day 3 № of participants: 401 (5 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Pain postoperative day 7 № of participants: 420 (5 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Low |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Intraoperative blood loss № of participants: 781 (9 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Primary bleeding № of participants: 2055 (25 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 0.99 [0.48, 2.05] | NR | Low |
Coblation vs other surgical techniques Secondary bleeding № of participants: 2118 (25 studies) · patients requiring tonsillectomy (any diagnosis) Coblation versus other surgical techniques for tonsillectomy (2017) · Cochrane | RR 1.36 [0.95, 1.95] | NR | Low |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Patient preference № of participants: 178 (4 RCTs) Total of 8 to 12 weeks · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Hearing‐specific HRQL · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Adverse effects: pain or discomfort in the ear, initiation or exacerbation of middle or outer ear infection · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Usage of hearing aids (including data logging and self‐report) № of participants: 56 (1 study) · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Generic HRQL ‐ not measured · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Listening ability · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Sound localisation as measured by (non‐validated) questionnaire № of participants: 56 (1 study) · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Bilateral vs unilateral hearing aids Speech in noise detection as measured by (non‐validated) questionnaire № of participants: 56 (1 study) · adults with hearing loss Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults (2017) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low |
Needle aspiration vs incision and drainage Primary outcome: recurrence rate · patients older than 8 years with peritonsillar abscess Needle aspiration versus incision and drainage for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess (2016) · Cochrane | RR 3.74 | 10 studies · 612 participants | Very low |
Needle aspiration vs incision and drainage Primary outcome: adverse effects/events associated with the interventions · patients older than 8 years with peritonsillar abscess Needle aspiration versus incision and drainage for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 226 participants | Very low |
Needle aspiration vs incision and drainage Secondary outcome: time to resumption of normal diet · patients older than 8 years with peritonsillar abscess Needle aspiration versus incision and drainage for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 124 participants | Very low |
Needle aspiration vs incision and drainage Secondary outcome: complications of the disease process · patients older than 8 years with peritonsillar abscess Needle aspiration versus incision and drainage for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 170 participants | Very low |
Needle aspiration vs incision and drainage Secondary outcome: symptom scores (Multiple different outcome scales used) · patients older than 8 years with peritonsillar abscess Needle aspiration versus incision and drainage for the treatment of peritonsillar abscess (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 participants | Very low |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Complete resolution of OME at 2 to 3 months · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2 [1.58, 2.53] | 6 studies · 484 participants | Moderate |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Adverse effects · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 2.15 [1.29, 3.6] | 5 studies · 742 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Complete resolution of OME at 2 to 4 weeks · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.98 [1.47, 2.67] | 14 studies · 2091 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Complete resolution of OME at more than 6 months · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 1.75 [1.41, 2.18] | 5 studies · 606 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Insertion of ventilation tubes · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.9 [0.46, 1.78] | 2 studies · 121 participants | Low |
Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness Tympanic membrane sequelae · children with otitis media with effusion Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.42 [0.18, 1.01] | 1 study · 103 participants | Low |
Intervention NR Improvement in tinnitus severity and disability, measured by a validated tinnitus‐specific questionnaire (THQ) Proportion of patients improved 4 months · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 187 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Adverse effects of treatment · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Quality of life · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Socioeconomic impact associated with work · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Anxiety and depression disorders · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Psychoacoustic parameters · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Tinnitus loudness (dB) · adults over 18 years with tinnitus Zinc supplementation for tinnitus (2016) · Cochrane | MD 0.5 | 1 study · 41 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Adherence · adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Adverse effects Number of outstanding complaints · adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation (2016) · Cochrane | RR 0.75 [0.5, 1.12] | 1 study · 98 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Quality of life · adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Intervention NR Self‐reported hearing handicap Validated self‐report measure HHIE scale from: 0 to 100 (Ventry 1982) · adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 628 participants | Very low |
Intervention NR Hearing aid benefit Validated self‐report measure. Outer EAR scale from: 0 to 100 · adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids Interventions to improve hearing aid use in adult auditory rehabilitation (2016) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 582 participants | Very low |