Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Oncology and technique are an essential component of radiation therapy skills and application of fundamental principles to routine treatment practice is essential. This unit builds on the fundamental theories of Radiation Therapy 1 to concentrate on application of knowledge to practice. Students will need to gain practical skills in order to become a competent radiation therapist and this module provides them with the underpinning theory and practice. Students at this level are expected to engage with the literature base in order to support their work and they will have specific support for this via the presentation.

Aims

This unit is designed to further develop and start to apply the principles of oncology and technique for various anatomical sites.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, the successful student will be able to:

1. Explain how radiation therapy clinical management is influenced by physiology and oncology for a range of tumour sites.

2. Identify the steps used to accurately deliver and verify radiotherapy treatment to common disease sites and reflect on the impact of errors in checking procedures.

3. Identify the side effects of treatment for each treatment site and describe and explain the treatment of these side effects.

Content

Overview of chemotherapy

Tumour Sites to include :
Breast
Lung
Upper GI
Lower GI
Bladder

You will become familiar with the following for each site :
Physiology
Patient pre-treatment assessment process
Histology and staging
Optimal treatment techniques
Combined modality treatments, including chemotherapy
Typical treatment reactions
Patient care during RT, including psychosocial issues
Treatment verification (IGRT)

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 oncology and technique. These will be complemented with regular practical sessions to consolidate your understanding. The practicals will use VERT to provide you with the opportunity to develop genuine and relevant practical skills. Problem-based learning will challenge you to apply your knowledge and understanding to realistic clinical situations for a range of common tumour sites.

As you progress through the Course you will be expected to become increasingly active in your learning and the teaching and learning strategies in this unit require you to engage in more 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, self-directed study and further planning practice. 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, you will need to discuss plan evaluation strategies with your peers and tutors via the Blackboard discussion board.

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

All assessment contributes to unit results. Students must achieve at least 50% to be awarded a passing grade in order to progress.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 in the VERT lab. Short online tests will be taken throughout the semester to test student understanding of essential principles and to ensure steady progression of learning.
Relates to objectives: 2
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be required to write a protocol and checking procedure for a rouitne treatment site. This will include a reflective piece on the importance of the steps involved and the potential for error.
Relates to objectives: 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid Semester

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

Tobias J and Hochhauser D (2010) Cancer and it's Management 6th Edition Wiley Blackwell

Dobbs J, Barrett A & Ash D (2009 Practical Radiotherapy Planning, 4th edition, Hodder Arnold

Perez C & Brady L (2004) Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology, 4th edition, Lippincott

Washington CM, Lever D (2000) Principles and Practice of Radiaiton Therapy 3rd Edition Mosby

De Vita, et al (2005) Cancer; Principles and Practice of Oncology, 7th edition, Lippincott

Specialised Radiation Oncology Journals and online resources

Risk assessment statement

Students will be required to comply with the Health & Safety Policy of the QUT VERT laboratory.

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: 30-Nov-2012