Implementing Good Life with osteoArthritis from Denmark (GLA:D®) in Australian public hospitals. Part 1: feasibility

Background: Literature reporting positive outcomes from the Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) program in Australia mainly involves patients attending private physiotherapy services. Objective: Evaluate the feasibility of implementing GLA:D® in Australian public hospitals. Design: Implementation study in three metropolitan tertiary public hospitals over six months. Method: Patients aged ≥18 years with knee or hip joint-related problems deemed appropriate for non-surgical care were invited to participate in GLA:D®. Feasibility was evaluated using RE-AIM framework components (Implementation, Effectiveness, Maintenance) using service-level metrics, patient-level data, and program fidelity assessment. Findings of qualitative interviews with service providers are presented in Part 2. Results: Implementation: 70 patients (69 with knee osteoarthritis) participated (13 cohorts). 55 (79%) patients attended both education sessions, and 49 patients (70%) attended 10–12 exercises sessions. Fidelity was met based on environmental, therapist, participant- and program-related criteria. Effectiveness: At 3 months, patients reported lower average pain (visual analogue scale [0–100 mm]: effect size −0.56, 95% CI -0.88 to −0.23) and disability (HOOS/KOOS-12 [100-0]: 0.67, 0.28 to 1.05), and improved quality of life (EQ-5D overall score: 0.46, 0.11 to 0.80). No adverse events were reported. All patients who completed 3-month assessment (n = 52) would recommend GLA:D®. Maintenance: All participating services elected to continue delivering GLA:D® beyond the study. Conclusions: Implementing GLA:D® in Australian public hospitals is feasible, safe, and acceptable to patients with knee osteoarthritis. Public hospital patients with knee osteoarthritis reported improvements in pain, disability, and quality of life similar to previous GLA:D® cohorts.