Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE RAD2057

 
TITLE Clinical Radiotherapy Practice 2

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

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
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 and radiotherapy 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 and summer period. Clinical placements are assigned in consultation with the clinical centre. Students will work under the direct supervision of qualified radiographers.

Academic staff from the University monitor this practice to ensure the development of clinical skills. Academic staff from UoM will also guide the development of treatment planning skills.

Study-unit Aims:

- Develop the students’ knowledge of radiotherapy principles related to the use of the linear accelerator and radiotherapy treatment planning;
- Develop the students’ knowledge of immobilisation in radiotherapy techniques;
- Develop the students’ knowledge and application of radiotherapy dose calculations;
- Develop the students’ 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 and planning principles to a range of malignancies;
- Care for the effects of radiation treatment of a range of patients as they undergo radiotherapy;
- 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 apply and make use of knowledge gained to:
- Use and Image a patient using CT sim under supervision of a qualified radiographer;
- Develop a range of radiotherapy treatment plans;
- Identify and outline critical structures and target volumes;
- Simulate a radiotherapy treatment procedure on VERT;
- Perform under supervision a radiotherapy treatment procedure on the linear accelerator;
- Work within guidelines as part of the radiotherapy team in order to perform treatment techniques for malignancies 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 workload on a radiotherapy treatment unit;
- Provide instructions to and communicate with the patient with regards to their radiotherapy pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment procedures;
- Advice and care for patients with during treatment.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Bentel, G.C. (1996) Radiation Therapy Planning. (2nd edition). New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Bomford, C. & Kunkler, I. (editors) (2003) Walter and Miller’s Textbook of Radiotherapy. (6th edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
- 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.
- O’Halloran, D., Guyers, K. & Henderson, J. (2005) Notes on Anatomy and Oncology. London: Churchill Livingstone.
- Teedell, C. (2005) Concise Clinical Oncology. London: Elsevier.
- Tortora, G. & Grabowski, S. (2004) Introduction to the Human Body. The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, (6th 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 assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Placement and Demonstrations

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Competencies [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 20%
Portfolio [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 30%
Clinical Assessment [See Add. Notes] See note below Yes 50%
Note: Assessment due date will be notified by the Faculty/Institute/Centre/School.

 
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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