RTS4100 · Radiation therapy principles for practice

Overview

In this unit you will study the aetiology, epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, oncology management and specific radiation therapy practices to support the care of patients with breast and prostate cancer. The fundamental principles of professional practice; communication, reflection, occupational health and safety and radiation safety as they apply to a radiation therapy practice will be examined. You will learn fundamental radiation therapy principles to enable you to analyse and apply beginner level radiation therapy planning, basic imaging and reflect on your technical and professional practice to guide your growth.

Offerings

Assessment

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

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

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

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Identify and describe; structural and sectional anatomy, physiology, pathology and oncology related to the reproductive systems to support the management of patients with prostate and breast cancer.
2. Identify and describe the radiation therapy pre-treatment and planning techniques with reference to international standards and the evidence-base to support the management of patients with prostate and breast cancer.
3. Describe the radiation therapy treatment and verification techniques with reference to international standards and the evidence-base to support the management of patients with prostate and breast cancer.
4. Describe with reference to the evidence-base, acute and late radiation therapy side effects, analysing patient care and management strategies in patients with prostate or breast cancer.
5. Describe theories of communication and reflection, and apply these within a professional and regulatory radiation therapy context.
6. Demonstrate a professional approach to practice by implementing protocols to design individual radiation therapy treatment plans and patient management strategies for patients with prostate and breast cancer at a beginner level.
7. Explain and demonstrate the principles of occupational health and safety and radiation safety in the context of the national practice standards.

Workload

You will have an average of 12 hours per week of structured synchronous, asynchronous, teacher-directed and self-directed learning for 12 weeks. This includes a 1 X 2-hour online support tutorial per week, a 1 X 2-hour on-campus support tutorial per week, a 1.5-hour on-campus manual handling practical in week 11 and a 1.5-hour on-campus patient setup practical in week 12. You will be assigned self-directed content on Moodle weekly. The tutorial and practical classes help you consolidate and learn this content.

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