How To Implement GLA:D
GLA:D® has now been successfully implemented in many countries around the world.
If you are interested in implementing the program locally there is an established process outlined below. Please note not all steps apply to all countries, and can depend on the country, culture and resources.
11 steps to bring GLA:D® to a new country – with budget estimates
The project methodology outlined below follows the eleven steps previously taken to successfully bring GLA:D® to China. For countries where there is a well-established osteoarthritis research network, steps 2, 3 and 10 may not be necessary if there is already a moderate awareness at the societal level of osteoarthritis and the role exercise therapy should have in its treatment, and the infrastructure of therapy to provide the program. If interested in GLA:D each country should review the steps and identify what is required to make the program launch successful in their context.
A licensing contract between University of Southern Denmark and the organization responsible for implementation of GLA:D® in the new country is written up and signed.
Cost estimate: University of Southern Denmark (SDU) will charge a signing fee of EUR 4.000 for access to and use of GLA:D® materials in English. Separate contracts are needed if you are interested in running more GLA:D® programs intended for other musculoskeletal conditions.
Quantitative and qualitative data from health care professionals, patients and their relatives on beliefs about osteoarthritis and its prevention and treatment is collected.
Cost estimate: Costs for partner depends on local setup. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
A group of future GLA:D®trainers (4-6 physiotherapists/osteoarthritis researchers), a journalist and a representative from the health care authorities (or alike) travel to Denmark for a week to see GLA:D® being performed in local physiotherapy clinics and to visit University of Southern Denmark to learn more about exercise therapy as treatment for osteoarthritis.
Cost estimate: SDU will arrange and host the visit. No fees or SDU costs to be paid. Partner pays all travel and accommodation costs related to this activity.
The Danish team (2-3 people) goes to the new country to train the trainers in a 2-day course. This course is conducted in English. During the visit plans for implementation and adaptions of the original GLA:D® program are also discussed.
Cost estimate: SDU will charge a fee of EUR 1.500 per SDU employee per day (estimated total EUR 6.000). Partner pays all travel and accommodation costs for the Danish team related to this activity.
Translate and adapt the GLA:D® material into the local language and culture. This step also includes getting input from local patients with osteoarthritis to be enrolled in focus groups of 3-5 people.
Cost estimate: Costs for partner depends on local setup. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
Translate and culturally adapt the questionnaires needed to evaluate the effectiveness into the local language and culture.
Cost estimate: Costs and resources are country specific. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
Establish a database management system to set up a GLA:D patient registry (e.g. REDCap). This system should be used to collect and store all online patient questionnaires that will be used to monitor patient outcomes.
Cost estimate: Costs and resources may need to be allocated depending on the system chosen. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
A website similar to the GLA:D® websites in Denmark, Australia and Canada is set up in the local language with information about osteoarthritis and its treatments.
Cost estimate: Costs for partner depends on local setup. Remember to allocate resources to maintain and keep website updated and interesting. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
A media campaign (TV, printed media, social media) is conducted to impact on patients, clinicians and society’s awareness about osteoarthritis and their beliefs about exercise therapy as effective treatment of osteoarthritis. The GLA:D® certified clinicians are encouraged to use media and spread the word in their local area to patients, GPs, orthopaedic surgeons and other stakeholders.
Cost estimate: Costs for partner depends on local setup. No fees or SDU costs to be paid.
The Danish team meets online with the new country twice a year to follow-up on quality and progress of research. The new country becomes part of a community of practice in the GLA:D International Network and can learn from other countries who have implemented GLA:D.
Cost estimate: None.
To facilitate national uptake, GLA:D® courses for local clinicians from different regional areas are held in the local language by the 4-6 trainers taking the initial expanded course in English (2 people are needed for the practical part to train 10-20 local clinicians per course, in Denmark 6 people are needed to train 80 clinicians).
Cost estimate: SDU will charge an annual license fee of 10% of the total local course fee. An annual summary report detailing courses delivered will be submitted to SDU and an invoice will be returned. Remember to allocate resources to plan, register, conduct and follow up on clinicians to your budget.