Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE RAD2103

 
TITLE Clinical Imaging Practice 3

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

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Radiography

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit presents radiography students with the application of theoretical radiography principles in practice building on the skills and knowledge gained from Clinical Imaging Practice 2 and includes the vertebral column, skull and chest imaging.

The study-unit is made up of clinical demonstrations, practice and tutorials where students can discuss issues related to physical principles in radiography, radiation protection and aspects of patient care in clinical practice.

Students attend for 250 hours of clinical practice related to this study-unit during the academic year. Clinical placements are assigned by the Department in consultation with the clinical centres Students are expected to practice under the supervision of a qualified radiographer. A clinical tutor and a mentor ensure the development of clinical competencies and assessment. Students keep a log book with their daily activities and personal observations.

Teaching and assessment:
The clinical tutor is expected to spend time with the students under her/his charge to explain the procedures used in the various placement areas. The University mentor is also expected to monitor the students when they are called to perform practical tasks.

Academic members of staff and mentors visit students in each placement. Each visit lasts for approximately a whole morning. The clinical tutor and mentor regularly meet the students for tutorial and give each student feedback. At the scheduled periods assessments are held.

Study-unit Aims:

- Builds on the skills and knowledge acquired from previous clinical imaging practice units to achieve competency level 3 by carrying out radiographic procedures with minimal assistance from a qualified radiographer;
- Present radiation protection guidelines for patients, staff and visitors;
- Reinforce physics principles and their application in clinical practice;
- Familiarise students with the structure, shape and orientation of the bones of the vertebral column, skull and thoracic contents;
- Provide the students with the skills required to position patients appropriately for the required imaging examination;
- Provide an overview of radiological appearance of trauma and pathologies related to vertebral column, skull and chest areas;
- Use of correct anatomical terminology;
- Provide a practical learning environment which encourages competent, confident and safe working practices;
- Enable the students to understand the needs of the patient and the respect and care necessary to be given in different circumstances.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Continue to meet all learning outcomes from previous Clinical Imaging Practice study-units;
- Identify anatomical structures related to vertebral column, skull and chest areas;
- Identify and locate anatomical surface markings and centering points related to vertebral column, skull and chest imaging;
- Identify and describe pathological features on resultant images;
- Explain the terminology used for different clinical indications related to vertebral column, skull and chest imaging.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Reach competency level 3. Assistance offered will primarily be verbal but also include a pre-exposure check. The student must be supervised at all times.

Procedures at this level include:
- Justify requests for imaging procedures based on the clinical indications;
- Choose appropriate radiographic projections to exclude or confirm the clinical indication;
- Manage and prioritise requests based on the clinical indications considering the health and urgency of the cases;
- Carry out radiographic procedures with minimal assistance from and while being supervised by a qualified radiographer;
- Select appropriate exposure factors and imaging accessories as required;
- Conduct the exposures with the minimum radiation exposure risk in accordance with ‘ALARA’ (as low as reasonably achievable) principle;
- Critically evaluate the resultant images and identify areas for improvement;
- Recommend and carry out further projections with minimal assistance from the supervising radiographer to better demonstrate findings from standard projections;
- Effectively communicate the required information to the patient at the end of the examination;
- Practice appropriate patient care depending on needs of the patient and the radiographic examination.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Adam A, & Dixon, AK (2007) Grainger & Allison’s Diagnostic Radiology: 2 Vol Set (5th ed.) Churchill Livingstone
- Aichinger, H, et al (2003) Radiation Exposure and Image Quality in X-Ray Diagnostic Radiology: Physical Principles and Clinical Applications. Springer
- American College of Emergency Physicians (2010), ACEP First Aid Manual (3rd Ed), DK Publishing
- Ball, JL, & Price T, (2010) Chesney’s Radiographic Imaging (6th ed.), Wiley-Blackwell
- Bontrager, KL & Lampignano J (2009) Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy (7th ed.), Mosby
- Carlton, R & Adler A, (2005), Principles of Radiographic Imaging: An Art and a Science, Delmar Publication
- Ehrlich, RA & Daly, JA (2008) Patient Care in Radiography: With an Introduction to Medical Imaging (7th ed.), Mosby
- Frank, ED, Long, BW & Smith, BJ (2007) Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positioning and Procedures (11th ed.), Mosby
- Morrison, WB, & Sanders, TG, (2008) Problem solving in Musculoskeletal Imaging, Mosby
- Stabin, MG (2007) Radiation Protection and Dosimetry: An Introduction to Health Physics. Springer
- Suetens, P (2009) Fundamentals of Medical Imaging (2nd ed.) Churchill Livingstone
- Eisenberg, RL & Johnson NM (2007) Comprehensive Radiographic Pathology (4th ed.), Mosby
- Kowalczyk, N & Mace, JD (2008) Radiographic Pathology for Technologists (5th ed.), Mosby
- Mayer-Baese, A (2003) Pattern Recognition for Medical Imaging, Academic Press
- Ehrlick, McKloskey (2004) Patient care in radiography.

 
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 20%
Clinical Assessment (See Add. Notes) See note below Yes 60%
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit