The feasibility of implementing an English language version of GLA:D Back

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Health
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Clinical Implementation Science

Background:

• Clinical guidelines for low back pain (LBP) recommend patient education and activity advice, but these are often not followed.
• The GLA:D® Back program, originating in Denmark, standardizes evidence-based care for LBP.
• Implementation of evidence-based LBP management remains a challenge in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of implementing the English version of the Danish GLA:D® Back program in Alberta, Canada.
• To assess clinician adoption rates and patient enrollment in the GLA:D® Back program.
• To explore clinician confidence, attitudes, and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A feasibility study involving 35 clinicians across 19 clinics in Alberta, Canada.
• Primary outcome: Feasibility defined by 50% clinician/clinic adoption and 66-88 enrolled participants within 3 months.
• Secondary outcomes: Clinician confidence, attitudes, behaviors, barriers, facilitators, and patient data (pain, function, health, self-efficacy).

Main Results:

• High implementation success: 79% of clinics offered GLA:D® Back, and 71% of clinicians delivered the program.
• Program enrollment met targets with 78 patients registered and 88% attending final assessment.
• Clinicians showed positive orientation and confidence; patient outcomes trended towards improvement.

Conclusions:

• The English translation of the GLA:D® Back program is feasible for implementation by clinicians in Alberta.
• The program can be successfully adopted in both urban and rural clinical settings.
• This study supports the wider implementation of standardized, evidence-based care for low back pain.