RTP5101 · Patient care and assessment in radiation therapy

Overview

This is the second core unit of the Master of Advanced Radiation Therapy Practice. It is designed to meet the needs of Radiation Therapists seeking to extend their knowledge and skills in patient care, assessment and toxicity management. The unit will allow students to develop the skills to formulate strategies to assist in managing patient care and treatment compliance through communication and cultural competence. Students will critically evaluate the tools used to assess and monitor the condition of patients during their treatment course. Students will also analyse information management in relation to their current roles in supporting patients. The assessment and monitoring tools used in evaluating the effects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment will be investigated and their application to radiation therapy practice appraised.

Areas of study: Radiation therapy

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Appraise the issues associated with information literacy and provision of information to cancer patients prior to, during and after radiation therapy
2. Evaluate and reflect on communication theory relating to patient care, assessment and compliance with treatment
3. Analyse the concept of cultural competence reflecting on how this may impact on patient care and management
4. Explain the concept of emotional intelligence and describe how this can be used in patient care strategies
5. Analyse the impact of cancer diagnosis and the effects of radiation therapy on quality of life
6. Evaluate the tools which are used for the assessment of patient health, performance status, well-being and satisfaction
7. Distinguish between the range of toxicity assessment tools used in radiation therapy and apply this to your current practice.

Workload

Off-campus: 12 hours per week of direct engagement in the learning materials and 12 hours of self-directed study for 12 weeks.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.