For clinicians

The GLA:D®BACK training course provides clinicians with the latest knowledge about back pain, evidence-based treatment, and the need to record patient data in the clinical registry to create new knowledge.

Participating clinicians are thoroughly trained in the GLA:D Back approach, including:

• the first individual consultation
• registration of patients in the GLA:D Back registry
• patient education and exercise classes
• completion of the program.

Clinicians learn how to best help patients take control of their back pain and to function well in everyday life despite back problems. The overall approach is that people with back problems need a balance between the capability they have (physical and mental) and the demands they are exposed to.

Clinicians are trained in all practical elements of GLA:D Back and receive all necessary materials to deliver GLA:D Back in their clinics directly after the course. In this way, GLAD Back provides optimal support for guideline-based care for back pain, to be immediately implemented into clinical practice.

After the course, participants are certified as providers of GLA:D Back. Maintaining certification requires compliance with the principles of GLA:D Back and that a GLA:D Back course is offered at the clinic within 6 months of completing the training course.

For a program to be a GLA:D Back program, all three elements must be included:

1. Patient education sessions, based on GLA:D Back material
2. Exercise classes, based on GLA:D Back material, and
3. Recording data in the GLA:D Back registry.

Starting up a GLA:D Back program

After the course, certified clinicians have access to all the material to be used for patient education (two slideshows and text suggestions), for exercises (protocols for patients with exercises and suggestions for both progression and regression), patient information leaflets, collaborator folders, posters, access to the database to record test results, objectives, etc.

During the course, time is allocated to develop a plan for how clinicians can start a GLA:D Back program in their clinic. If there are challenges later, clinicians can get support by emailing gladbackaus@mq.edu.au. If there are no patients registered in the database after six months, the clinic will be contacted by the GLA:D Back Australia team.

Further course information

Information for GPs and other referrers

GLA:D Back is a treatment option for patients with long-term or recurrent low back pain that affects everyday life. The program combines both education and exercise to improve self-management skills in patients with back pain.