Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description



CODE RAD2056

 
TITLE Clinical Radiotherapy Practice 2

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 8

 
DEPARTMENT Radiography

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit presents radiography students with the application of theoretical radiotherapy principles into practice.

This study-unit is made up of clinical practice, tutorials, demonstrations, clinical case scenarios, student centred learning and student managed learning. This study-unit will build on and develop the principles of radiotherapy and oncology, patient care and related areas and their application to clinical practice to include the linear accelerator, CT Simulator and Virtual Simulator and pre-treatment planning. Associated radiation protection will be applied to practice.

Students attend for 200 hours of clinical practice related to this study unit during the academic year. Clinical placements are assigned in consultation with the Radiotherapy Department, Sir Paul Boffa Hospital (and in future Mater Dei Hospital). Students will work under the direct supervision of clinical radiotherapy radiographers. Academic staff from Cardiff University will monitor this practice to ensure the development of clinical skills.

Study-unit Aims:

- Develop the students’ knowledge of radiotherapy principles related to the use of the linear accelerator, CT Simulator and Virtual Simulator and treatment planning;
- Develop the students’ knowledge of immobilisation in radiotherapy techniques;
- Develop the students’ knowledge and application of radiotherapy dose calculations;
- Develop the understanding of radiation protection guidelines for patients, staff and visitors;
- Reinforce physics principles and their application in radiotherapy practice;
- Provide the students with the general skills required to position patients and use immobilisation aids for radiotherapy treatments;
- Provide a practical learning environment which encourages competent, confident - and safe working practices;
- Enable the students to understand the needs of the patient and deliver the required care as appropriate.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Explain the terminology used within radiotherapy and oncology;
- Calculate direct fields and dose at depth and parallel opposed pairs;
- Apply radiotherapy treatment principles and use the equipment to a range of common malignancies. This will include breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colo-rectal cancer;
- Care for the effects of radiation treatment of a range of patients as they undergo radiotherapy to the identified cancers;
- Discuss the holistic care required by patients undergoing radiotherapy and identify their place within the multi-disciplinary team.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Achieve the proficiency level in the indicated field;
- Draw up and develop a range of common radiotherapy treatment plans;
- Perform a radiotherapy treatment procedure on the linear accelerator;
- Perform a radiotherapy pre-treatment procedure on the CT Simulator;
- Work within the radiotherapy team within guidelines in order to perform treatment techniques. This will include common malignancies and others that present to the radiotherapy department;
- Carry out dose calculations in order to implement a treatment prescription;
- Assist in the management and organisation of the daily work load on a radiotherapy treatment unit;
- Provide instructions to the patient with regards to their radiotherapy;
- Advise and care for patients with regard to expected treatment reactions.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Bentel, G.C. (1996) Radiation Therapy Planning. (2nd edition). New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Bridge, P. (2011) CT Anatomy for Radiotherapy. M&k Update.
- Daniels, R. (2004) Nursing Fundamentals. Caring and Clinical Decision Making. London: Thomson Delmar Learning.
- Drake, R.L., Vogl, W. & Mitchell, A.W.M. (2005) Gray’s Anatomy for Students. Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
- Dobbs, J., Barrett, A., Morris, S.L. & Roques, T (2009) Practical Radiotherapy Planning. (4th edition). London: Hodder Arnold.
- Faithfull, S. & Wells, M. (editors) (2003) Supportive Care in Radiotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
- Hanna L., Crosby T. & Macbeth. F. (editors) (2008) Practical Clinical Oncology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Health Professions Council (2009) Standards of Proficiency. Radiographers. London: Health Professions Council.
- Health Professions Council (2009) Standards of Education and Training. London: Health Professions Council.
- Hoskin, P. (2012) External Beam Therapy (Radiotherapy in Practice). Oxford University Press, USA.
- O’Halloran, D., Guyers, K. & Henderson, J. (2005) Notes on Anatomy and Oncology. London: Churchill Livingstone.
- Symonds, P.; Deehan, C.; Meredith, C.; Mills, J.A. (2012) Walter and Miller's Textbook of Radiotherapy: Radiation Physics, Therapy and Oncology. Churchill Livingstone.
- Teedell, C. (2005) Concise Clinical Oncology. London: Elsevier.
- Tortora, G. & Derrickson, B. H. (2007) Introduction to the Human Body. The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, (7th edition). USA: John Wiley and Sons Inc.
- Wittekind, C., Greene, F.L.., Hutter, R.P.V., Klimpfinger, M. & Sobin, L.H. (2005) TNM Atlas. (5th edition). Berlin: Springer.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Please note that a pass in each component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Competencies [See Add. Notes] Yes 20%
Portfolio [See Add. Notes] Yes 25%
Clinical Assessment 1 [See Add. Notes] Yes 30%
Clinical Assessment 2 [See Add. Notes] Yes 25%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.


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