RTS5104 · Radiation therapy science 7

Overview

In this unit you will study the principles and applications of radiation therapy planning, treatment and patient care. This unit covers paediatric radiation therapy, central nervous, upper digestive, upper respiratory, endocrine systems, and organs of special sense. You will analyse a range of imaging datasets and describe how they relate to individual patient management. The role and clinical applications of brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, tomo-therapy, adaptive radiation therapy and proton therapy will also be studied. The unit will further facilitate your skill development in radiation therapy treatment planning and plan analysis through simulated learning online treatment planning activities which will allow you to further develop clinical and professional skills including clinical decision making.

Areas of study: Radiation therapy

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

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 in detail; structural and sectional anatomy, physiology, pathology and oncology related to paediatric tumours, upper respiratory, upper digestive, endocrine, central nervous systems, and organs of special sense.
2. Critically analyse radiation therapy planning, treatment and verification techniques with reference to international standards, the evidence-base and personal reflections for paediatric tumours, upper respiratory, upper digestive, endocrine, central nervous systems, and organs of special sense.
3. Design a range of radiation therapy treatment plans for paediatric tumours, upper respiratory, upper digestive, endocrine, central nervous systems, and organs of special sense. Evaluate with reference to the evidence-base and personal reflections acute and late radiation therapy side effects, analysing patient care and management strategies related to the above body systems, demonstrating the provision of intermediate and transitioning to competent level multi-disciplinary patient care, management, communication, cultural safety and professional skills for a range of patients.
4. Appraise the role of CT, MRI, PET and Ultrasound imaging for diagnosis, radiation therapy planning and treatment verification.
5. Apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology to critically evaluate images for radiation therapy patients.
6. Evaluate brachytherapy principles, protocols, and techniques.
7. Demonstrate initiative, problem solving and decision making skills.
8. Demonstrate critical reflection on practice.

Workload

This is a year long unit. There are eight weeks of intensive study split into two blocks during the unit. During these intensive periods you do not have placement and are expected to spend up to 25 hours per week engaging with the content. Most of the learning happens in these blocks. During these 25 hours, you will undertake online learning, have self-directed study and two 90-minute support tutorials. When you are not on placement and the other cohort is, you will be assigned workbooks which equate to 80 hours of content. Outside of the intensive period there will be eight 1-hr support tutorials.

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