Table 2.

Cure rate according to questionnaires completed by general practitioners at 7, 14, and 21 days follow up for 199 patients with otitis externa treated with ear drops containing acetic acid, steroid and acetic acid, or steroid and antibiotic

Follow up	No of patients	Odds ratio (95% CI)	P value*	Odds ratio (95% CI)†	P value
7 days:
Acetic acid	19/65	1		1
Steroid and acetic acid	29/61	2.2 (1.1 to 4.6)	0.036	1.9 (0.9 to 0.04)	0.100
Steroid and antibiotic	31/73	1.8 (0.9 to 3.6)	0.108	1.8 (0.9 to 3.7)	0.089
14 days:
Acetic acid	37/65	1		1
Steroid and acetic acid	46/61	2.3 (1.1 to 5.0)	0.030	2.4 (1.1 to 5.3)	0.026
Steroid and antibiotic	60/73	3.5 (1.6 to 7.6)	0.002	3.5 (1.6 to 7.7)	0.001
21 days:
Acetic acid	40/65	1		1
Steroid and acetic acid	54/61	4.8 (1.9 to 12.3)	0.001	5.3 (2.0 to 13.7)	0.001
Steroid and antibiotic	63/73	3.9 (1.7 to 9.1)	0.001	3.9 (1.7 to 9.1)	0.001

^*Logistic regression.

^†Adjusted for differences at baseline.