Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Wax clearance
Systematic review	50 people, 100 ears Data from 1 RCT	Wax clearance (reduction in wax in more than 50% of ears) with choline salicylate/glycerol/ethyleneoxide-polyoxypropylene glycol (non-water non-oil-based) with arachis oil/chlorbutol/p-dichlorobenzene (oil-based) Absolute results not reported	OR 1.1 95% CI 0.5 to 2.4 P value not reported		Not significant
RCT 3-armed trial	38 people, 76 ears	Mean difference between pre- and post-treatment occlusion scores (0 = no occlusion, 1 = <50% occluded, 2 = >50% occluded, 3 = complete occlusion) 1.92 with carbamide peroxide/anhydrous glycerine-based softener (non-water non-oil base) 1.46 with arachis oil/chlorobutanol/dichlorobenzene-based softener 2.30 with mineral oil/paraffin/squalane/spearmint oil-based softener	P value not reported Reported as 'no difference' regarding the degree of occlusion between the 3 treatment groups