Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Radiation therapy requires a detailed knowledge of the equipment used, radiation safety and quality assurance, oncology/technique and patient care. This unit is the first in a series of four radiation therapy units and is essential in order to familiarise students with fundamental underpinning concepts of radiation therapy treatment. The practical aspect of this unit will allow students to practice basic treatment techniques in a safe environment in order to prepare them for clinical practice. The clinical placements will allow students to famailiarise themselves with the practices of a radiation therapy department, in preparation for PCB389.

Aims

This unit aims to provide students with a sound understanding of terminology, concepts and underpinning treatment principles for radiation therapy.

Objectives

1. Explain and apply the basic principles of radiation oncology, technology and patient care
2. Demonstrate practical skills for basic radiotherapy and mould room techniques
3. Outline the work practices that ensure radiation safety and protection for staff, patients and public
4. Describe and explain the professional and legal requirements relating to radiation therapy
5. Demonstrate reflective practice by outlining the fundamental concepts underpinning reflection and identifying and reflecting on key learning opportunities.

Content

Manual Handling including health & safety
Radiation therapy equipment and bunker design
Introduction to oncology and treatment techniques for palliative, breast and prostate
Introduction to patient positioning including immobilisation and stabilisation
Medico-legal legislation
Patient care including radiation side effects
Fundamentals of image guided radiotherapy
Mould room practicals
VERT based practicals
Pre-Clinical Seminar - incorporating communication skills, emotional intelligence and the patient's perspective
Three weeks of clinical placement
Reflective practice

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A range of learning and teaching strategies will be employed in this unit. The lectures will introduce you to key concepts relating to the principles and practice of treatment. These will be complemented with regular practical sessions utilising the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) to consolidate your understanding of radiotherapy techniques. A one week clinical placement block at the start of semester will provide an introduction to the daily workings of a radiation therapy department, while the two week block later in the semester will provide you with the clinical experience necessary for preparation for PCB389.

As you progress through the Course you will be expected to become increasingly active in your learning and the teaching and learning strategies will reflect this approach, allowing you to progress to autonomous learning. For this unit, you will be provided with the essential information and opportunity to practice but you will need to supplement this with further reading and self-directed study. You will be required to reflect on your progress and performance in the unit at regular intervals. Additionally you should identify areas for development and address these with the aid of unit teaching staff where appropriate.

This unit requires you to engage with the Blackboard learning environment regularly. Specific learning materials including suggested reading, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Blackboard. You will be required to complete regular online tests via Blackboard and where possible use Blackboard to submit your written assessments.

A key aspect of the Course is fostering a thriving learning community and for this unit, the building blocks for this will utilise the Blackboard discussion board tools. You will be expected to engage regularly with your peers and tutors and key learning will take place via online question and answer sessions.

The final approach to teaching and learning relates to assessment for learning. The assessments for this unit are designed to ensure maximum understanding of the content and it is important that you recognise the role of assessment in your learning. You should view the assessments as part of your learning and ensure that you utilise the feedback to progress your learning and personal development.

Assessment

Students will be required to demonstrate a satisfactory level of achievement in both the practical and theory components to achieve a passing grade to enable progression to Radiation Therapy 2 and Clinical Radiotherapy 1.Feedback is provided throughout the semester, where work is reviewed and assessed. Feedback will aim to provide students with suggestions for further development of academic skills as well as suggestions for further study where appropriate. Timescales for feedback will be communicated to students prior to assessment submission but will aim to be returned within 4 weeks where possible. Provisional marks and feedback for this unit will be made available via Blackboard and accessible from the ¿My Grades¿ tool. Some tests within Blackboard will be automatically marked and these marks and automatically generated feedback will be available immediately after test submission.

Assessment name: Laboratory/Practical
Description: Practical sessions will be conducted throughout the semester and ongoing feedback will be provided. Attendance and participation is required at all practical sessions. Short online tests will be taken after each practical seminar to test student understanding of essential principles and to ensure steady progression of learning.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Workbook
Description: During your placement you will be assessed by the clinical staff and will be required to submit a reflective journal relating to your placement.
Relates to objectives: 1 & 5.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Placement

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Written examination at end of semester.
Relates to objectives: All.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

1. Tobias, J. And Hochhauser, D. (2010) Cancer and it's Management 6th Edition

2. Dobbs, J., Barrett, A., Barrett A, Dobbs J, Morris S, Roques T (2009). Practical Radiotherapy Planning. 4th Ed. Hodder Arnold

3. Hull & Redfern (1996) Profiles and Portfolio's: A Guide for Nurses and Midwives Macmillan Press Ltd.

4. Redman W (1994) Portfolios for Development, A Guide for Trainers and Managers, Kogan Page.

5. Rolfe G, Freshwater D and Jasper M (2001) Critical reflection for nursing and the helping professions - a user guide. Palgrave, New York

Risk assessment statement

The risks associated with this unit relate to the operation of radiation therapy equipment in the clinical departments and the handling of materials in the mould room practicals. You will receive instructions on safety issues and be provided with radiation film badge to assess radiation exposure during the practical sessions.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 17-Oct-2012