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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Health‐related quality of life · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Ear pain or discomfort at 14 weeks · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.08 [0.07, 16.36] | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Hearing · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 419 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Serious complications (including intracranial complications, extracranial complications and death) · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 149 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone Suspected ototoxicity: dizziness/vertigo/balance · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.46 [0.04, 4.8] | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Health‐related quality of life · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Ear pain (otalgia) or discomfort or local irritation · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Hearing · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Serious complications (including intracranial complications, extracranial complications and death) · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 173 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment Suspected ototoxicity · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) Resolution of ear discharge at between 1 to 2 weeks · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.08 [0.96, 1.21] | 3 studies · 335 participants | Low |
Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks · people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Resolution of ear discharge (between 1 week and up to 2 weeks) ‐ not reported · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Resolution of ear discharge (4 weeks or more) · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.73 [1.21, 2.47] | 1 study · 180 participants | Very low |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Health‐related quality of life ‐ not reported · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Ear pain (otalgia) or discomfort or local irritation ‐ not reported · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Hearing · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 180 participants | Very low |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Serious complications ‐ not reported · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antiseptic vs no treatment Suspected ototoxicity · chronic suppurative otitis media Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 180 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Resolution of ear discharge (1 to 2 weeks) Aminoglycosides · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.72, 1.08] | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Quality of life ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Ear pain, discomfort, irritation · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.56 [0.32, 0.98] | 2 studies · 510 participants | Low |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Average change in hearing from baseline · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 390 participants | Low |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Serious complications ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Suspected ototoxicity ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Resolution of ear discharge (1 to 2 weeks) · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.02 [0.82, 1.26] | 1 study · 39 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Resolution of ear discharge (after 4 weeks) ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Quality of life ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Ear pain, discomfort, irritation ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Hearing · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Resolution of ear discharge (after 4 weeks) ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Serious complications ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs povidone‐iodine Suspected ototoxicity · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 40 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Quality of life ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Ear pain, discomfort, irritation · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.16 [0.02, 1.34] | 2 studies · 189 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Hearing · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 107 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Serious complications ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Topical antibiotics vs acetic acid Suspected ototoxicity · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Resolution of ear discharge (1 to 2 weeks) Quinolones · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.86 [1.48, 2.35] | 1 study · 411 participants | Moderate |
Topical antibiotics (quinolones) vs boric acid Resolution of ear discharge (after 4 weeks) ‐ not measured · chronic suppurative otitis media Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Aural toileting vs no aural toileting Resolution of ear discharge ‐ 1 to 2 weeks · children with chronic suppurative otitis media Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Daily aural toileting vs single aural toileting episode Health‐related quality of life · people (of any age) with otorrhoea for a duration of at least 6 weeks Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Daily aural toileting vs single aural toileting episode Ear pain (otalgia) or discomfort or local irritation · people (of any age) with otorrhoea for a duration of at least 6 weeks Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Daily aural toileting vs single aural toileting episode Hearing · people (of any age) with otorrhoea for a duration of at least 6 weeks Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Daily aural toileting vs single aural toileting episode Serious complications · people (of any age) with otorrhoea for a duration of at least 6 weeks Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Daily aural toileting vs single aural toileting episode Adverse events: dizziness Assessed by: self reported · people (of any age) with otorrhoea for a duration of at least 6 weeks Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 0.33 [0.01, 7.95] | 1 study · 80 participants | Very low |
Aural toileting vs no aural toileting Resolution of ear discharge ‐ 4 weeks or more Assessed by: otoscopically confirmed · children with chronic suppurative otitis media Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.6, 1.72] | 1 study · 217 participants | Very low |
Aural toileting vs no aural toileting Health‐related quality of life · children with chronic suppurative otitis media Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (2020) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |