A comparison of the clinical effectiveness of pretreatment olive oil administered as drops versus spray prior to earwax removal by microsuction in adults: a protocol for a cluster randomised control trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Excessive earwax causes unwanted symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, discomfort and changes in the quality of one's own voice. The NHS Audiology Wax Removal Service in North Wales recommends the use of olive oil as a pretreatment wax softener administered as either drops or spray prior to microsuction. For one in four patients microsuction is unsuccessful at the first attempt. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the administration of olive oil as a spray is a more effective pretreatment. This trial aims to explore whether administering olive oil pretreatment softener is more effective when administered as drops or spray.

Methods

This two-arm cluster randomised control trial will be conducted within the existing NHS Audiology wax removal service in North Wales fr

SUBMITTER: Jones LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12831375 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature