Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Wax clearance
RCT 4-armed trial	97 people, 155 ears, older people in hospital with impacted wax In review	Proportion of ears with complete wax clearance 9/40 (22%) with arachis oil/chlorbutol/p-dichlorobenzene (oil-based) wax softener 2/38 (5%) with no treatment	P <0.05 for oil-based wax softener v no treatment Result was of borderline significance	Effect size not calculated	wax softener
RCT 4-armed trial	97 people, 155 ears, older people in hospital with impacted wax In review	Proportion of ears with complete wax clearance 8/39 (21%) with sodium bicarbonate/glycerol/sterile water (water-based) wax softener 2/38 (5%) with no treatment	P <0.05 for water-based wax softener v no treatment Result was of borderline significance	Effect size not calculated	wax softener