"OA Day" Research Symposium
2026

Theme: Osteoarthritis Research in Ireland: Impact on Patients, Practice and Policy

This symposium was held on February 27th 2026 in the Strand Hotel Limerick. It was a dissemination event for the Health Research Board funded IMPACT project (IMPlementation of osteoArthritis Clinical guidelines Together) and showcased the research conducted on the GLA:D® Ireland project based at the University of Limerick over the last number of years. Details on the event including a policy brief launch, photos, speakers and agenda can be found below.

Keynote Speaker: Professor Ewa Roos

Professor at the University of Southern Denmark and co-founder of Good Life with osteoArthritis Denmark (GLA:D®). 

 

GLA:D® is an evidence-based 8-week structured exercise and education programme that has been implemented in 11 countries across the globe.

ewa
glad ireland logo
hrb
impact logo
ul master logo rbg

Launch of the Education & Exercise for Osteoarthritis Policy Brief

 
Click here to view the policy brief to mandate for programmes like GLA:D to be offered as first line treatments for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis in Ireland.
OA Strand Hotel 13
OA Strand Hotel 14
OA Strand Hotel 15
OA Strand Hotel 16
OA Strand Hotel 17
OA Strand Hotel 18
OA Strand Hotel 19
OA Strand Hotel 21
OA Strand Hotel 22
OA Strand Hotel 23
OA Strand Hotel 24
OA Strand Hotel 25
OA Strand Hotel 26
OA Strand Hotel 27
OA Strand Hotel 28
OA Strand Hotel 29
OA Strand Hotel 30
OA Strand Hotel 31
OA Strand Hotel 32
OA Strand Hotel 33
OA Strand Hotel 34
OA Strand Hotel 35
OA Strand Hotel 36
OA Strand Hotel 37
OA Strand Hotel 38
OA Strand Hotel 39
OA Strand Hotel 40
OA Strand Hotel 41
OA Strand Hotel 42
OA Strand Hotel 43
OA Strand Hotel 44
OA Strand Hotel 45
OA Strand Hotel 46
OA Strand Hotel 47
OA Strand Hotel 48
OA Strand Hotel 49
OA Strand Hotel 50
OA Strand Hotel 51
OA Strand Hotel 52
OA Strand Hotel 53
OA Strand Hotel 54
OA Strand Hotel 55
OA Strand Hotel 56
OA Strand Hotel 57
OA Strand Hotel 60
OA Strand Hotel 61
OA Strand Hotel 62
OA Strand Hotel 63
OA Strand Hotel 64
OA Strand Hotel 65
OA Strand Hotel 66
OA Strand Hotel 67
OA Strand Hotel 68
OA Strand Hotel 69
OA Strand Hotel 70
OA Strand Hotel 71
OA Strand Hotel 72
OA Strand Hotel 73
OA Strand Hotel 74
OA Strand Hotel 75
OA Strand Hotel 76
OA Strand Hotel 77
OA Strand Hotel 78
OA Strand Hotel 79
OA Strand Hotel 80
OA Strand Hotel 81
OA Strand Hotel 82
OA Strand Hotel 83
OA Strand Hotel 84
OA Strand Hotel 85
OA Strand Hotel 86
OA Strand Hotel 87
OA Strand Hotel 88
OA Strand Hotel 89
OA Strand Hotel 90
OA Strand Hotel 91
OA Strand Hotel 92
OA Strand Hotel 93
OA Strand Hotel 94
OA Strand Hotel 95
OA Strand Hotel 96
OA Strand Hotel 97
OA Strand Hotel 98
OA Strand Hotel 99
OA Strand Hotel 100
OA Strand Hotel 101
OA Strand Hotel 102
OA Strand Hotel 103
OA Strand Hotel 104
OA Strand Hotel 105
OA Strand Hotel 106
OA Strand Hotel 107
OA Strand Hotel 108
OA Strand Hotel 109
OA Strand Hotel 110
OA Strand Hotel 111
OA Strand Hotel 112
OA Strand Hotel 113
OA Strand Hotel 114
OA Strand Hotel 115
OA Strand Hotel 116
OA Strand Hotel 117
OA Strand Hotel 118
OA Strand Hotel 119
OA Strand Hotel 120
OA Strand Hotel 121
OA Strand Hotel 0
OA Strand Hotel 1
OA Strand Hotel 2
OA Strand Hotel 3
OA Strand Hotel 4
OA Strand Hotel 5
OA Strand Hotel 7
OA Strand Hotel 8
OA Strand Hotel 9
OA Strand Hotel 10
OA Strand Hotel 11
OA Strand Hotel 12

GLA:D® Ireland publications associated with the IMPACT (IMPlementation of osteoArthritis Clinical guidelines Together) project

Click here to see more.

Bhardwaj, A., Hayes, P., Browne, J., Grealis, S., Maguire, D., O’Hora, J., Dowling, I., Kennedy, N. and Toomey, C.M., (2024). Barriers, facilitators and referral patterns of general practitioners, physiotherapists, and people with osteoarthritis to exercise. Physiotherapy, 125, p.101416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2024.101416

Click here to see more.

Toomey, C.M., Bhardwaj, A., Browne, J., Dowling, I., Grealis, S., Hayes, P., Higgins, N., Maguire, D., O’Hora, J., Rector, J. and Wood-Thornsbury, A., (2024). Guideline-based exercise management for hip and knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional comparison of healthcare professional and patient beliefs in Ireland. BMJ open, 14(7), p.e080646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-024-05590-9

Click here to see more.

Bhardwaj, A., FitzGerald, C., Graham, M., MacFarlane, A., Kennedy, N., Toomey, CM. (2024) Barriers and facilitators to implementation of an exercise and education programme for osteoarthritis: a qualitative study using the consolidated framework for implementation research. Rheumatology International 44, 1035-1050. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-024-05590-9

Click here to see more.

Bhardwaj, A., Barry Walsh, C., Ezzat, A., O’Riordan, C., Kennedy, N. and Toomey, C.M., (2024). Patient and clinician perspectives of online-delivered exercise programmes for chronic musculoskeletal conditions: a mixed-methods systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 46(11), pp.2196-2212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-024-05590-9

Click here to see more.

Toomey, C.M., Kennedy, N., MacFarlane, A., Glynn, L., Forbes, J., Skou, S.T. and Roos, E.M., (2022). Implementation of clinical guidelines for osteoarthritis together (IMPACT): protocol for a participatory health research approach to implementing high value care. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 23(1), p.643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-024-05590-9

GLA:D® conference presentations associated with the IMPACT project

Interested in seeing some of our recent conference presentations?

Click here

Agenda for the OA Day

9.15 Registration open (tea/coffee)

 

9.45 Welcome Address / Launch by Kieran O’Donnell, TD – Minister of State for Older People and Housing

 

9.50 Overview of the IMPACT project and implementation of GLA:D in Ireland (Speaker: Dr Clodagh Toomey)

 

10.15 – 11.00 Session 1: IMPACT on Patients

  1. Patient-reported outcomes following GLA:D (Presenter: Stacey Grealis PPI Contributor)
  2. Interviews with GLA:D participants (Presenter: Dr Avantika Bhardwaj)
  3. Responding to patient needs: Co-design of Jointpain.ie (Presenter: Dr Helen O’Leary)
  4. Panel Q&A (Stacey Grealis, Helen O’Leary, Arthritis Ireland CEO Grainne O’Leary)

11.00 Movement and Tea/Coffee Break

 

11.15 – 12.15 Session 2: IMPACT on Practice

  1. Overview of implementation of GLA:D in healthcare settings in Ireland (Presenter: Peter Hempenstall)
  2. Barriers and facilitators to implementing GLA:D – interviews with GLA:D physiotherapists (Presenter: Dr Avantika Bhardwaj)
  3. GLA:D® service delivery in primary care, secondary care and private practice (Presenters: Karen Kelleher / Ciara Cullen/ Diarmaid Fitzgerald)
  4. Panel Q&A (Peter Hempenstall, Avantika Bhardwaj, Karen Kelleher, Ciara Cullen, Diarmaid Fitzgerald)

12.15 – 13.10 Lunch and Posters / Networking

 

13.10 – 13.40 KEYNOTE: Prof Ewa Roos – How GLA:D® has helped to shape high-value care in Denmark and across the globe

 

13.40 – 14.30 Session 3: IMPACT on Policy

  1. HRB ENACT Models of Care for Osteoarthritis (Presenter: Prof Helen French)
  2. HSE Hip and Knee OA Pathway (Presenter: Mr Alan Walsh, HSE National Clinical Programme for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery)
  3. Launch of OA Policy Briefing (Dr Clodagh Toomey)
  4. Panel Q&A (Prof Ewa Roos, Mr Alan Walsh, Prof Helen French, Dr Clodagh Toomey)

14.45 Close

This event was funded by a Health Research Board Emerging Investigator Award grant (EIA-2019-008) for the IMPACT project (IMPlementation of osteoArthritis Clinical guidelines Together).