Radiotherapy and Oncology in Practice

The aim of this module is to enable you to apply knowledge of research theories, including epistemology, and methods in order to critically evaluate research paradigms and evidence for practice. It will enable you to develop a critical understanding of research approaches, principles and processes that underpin research activity in the workplace and address the ethical dilemmas and organisational complexities of undertaking practice-based research.

Indicative content:

• Research paradigms
• Research context
• Research Question Development ·
• Research methods
• Systematic literature review
• Data collection
• Methods of data analysis
• Ethics and research governance Service user involvement in research
• Inclusive perspectives of research
• Proposal development

The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge, understanding and application of anatomy; imaging and radiation science; image interpretation, the formation of cancer and the principles of safe radiotherapy practice. 

To enable you to discuss and evaluate the multi-modality approach to the management of cancer, patient assessment, and care.  

Indicative content: 

Terminology associated with, anatomy, physiology oncology, radiotherapy techniques, patient care, and patient management. 

Anatomy and radiographic image interpretation of key body systems. 

Fundamental Principles including:  

• Social determinants of health & its impact upon Aetiology (causes) & Epidemiology (incidence & distribution) of Cancer 

• The characteristics of malignant disease (development & spread of Cancer), cancer biology, histology. 

• Cancer prevention & Public Health strategies including Screening for Cancer 

• The continuum of cancer care, Patient Pathway,  Factors affecting management decisions  

• Diagnosis, staging & grading of cancer.  

• Cancer management  

• Introduction to treatment modalities 

• Introduction to Radiotherapy treatment techniques  

• Introduction to radiobiology 

Fundamentals of Radiotherapy Physics including: 

• Fundamental maths and physics  

• Principles of Radioactivity 

• Interactions with matter and beam characteristics 

• X-ray production 

• Superficial treatment modality 

• The Linear Accelerator 

• Radiation Protection  

• Dose calculations 

• Quality Assurance and Linac Verification 

Oncology / Cancer sites 

• Haematological cancers  

• Lymphatic system cancers 

• Skin cancers 

• Management of oncological emergencies 

Patient Centred Care including: 

• Introduction to side effects and their management 

• Patient assessment and care planning 

• Communication and patient experience 

• Inclusivity in patient care   

Additional skills including: 

• Regulatory and professional legislation & guidance 

• Professionalism - understanding professionalism and professional development both within the university and in clinical practice.  

• Literature searching and referencing. 

• Appraisal of evidence-based practice 

• Academic writing skills 

Module Aim:  

:  

The aim of this module is to enable you to demonstrate an appropriate level of competent, accurate and safe practice for a range of clinical skills as well as professional attitudes and behaviours expected within the boundaries of legal, ethical and professional frameworks as required by the Health and Care Professions Council. 

Indicative content: 

• Effective and efficient communication skills with staff, service users and carers. 

• Application of theory to practice including knowledge of surface and radiographic anatomy. 

• Varied experiences in placement to aid skill development for qualification. 

• Recording of objectives and reflections on placements. 

• Acting on feedback for skill development  

• Working within departmental treatment protocols, IR(ME)R, SCoR code of conduct and HCPC standards. 

To develop your knowledge & understanding of oncology and the multi-modality approach to patient management of a range of cancer sites. 

To enable you to evaluate technology and equipment used, and appraise approaches to radiotherapy planning, delivery and verification. 

To develop your ability to critically appraise the research evidence base that underpins the decision-making process for the management of oncology patients.   

Indicative content 

Technology, equipment & radiation science including: 

Pre-treatment Imaging including computerised tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), Positron emission tomography (PET) & Single-photon emission computed tomography, (SPECT)  

• Image handling and fusion 
• Beam characteristics  
• Radiobiology – dose & fractionation 
• Radiotherapy Planning Practice 

Site specific approaches to methods of radiotherapy delivery e.g.  

• Volumetric modulated arc therapy 
• Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) 
• Intensity modulated-arc therapy (IMAT) 
• Volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT or Arc Therapy) 
• Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), Stereotactic Radio-Surgery (SRS) 

Site specific approaches to methods positioning and verification of accuracy & reproducibility e.g. 

Principles of Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) & Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH),  

Oncology & patient care including 

• Breast 
• Urology Prostate/Bladder/Kidney 
• Mid & Lower digestive system 
• Pancreas & Liver 
• Male Reproductive System 
• Lung 
• ​​Approaches to assessment, treatment planning and evaluation, and how to optimise these to achieve effective integrated, person-centred service delivery.​ 

Additional skills: 

• Regulatory and professional legislation & guidance 
• Professionalism - understanding professionalism and professional development both within the university and in clinical practice.  
• Critical reflection- application of reflective practice within personal, academic, and professional development 
• Appraisal of evidence-based practice 
• Academic writing skills 
• ​​Personal resilience ​ 
• ​​Utilisation of professional knowledge, skills, and values, applying these within an inter-professional team working across multiple service interfaces.

This module will enable you to develop and conduct an in depth investigation of a topic that challenges and contributes to your area of professional practice. It provides the opportunity to engage in and apply an understanding of research methods and demonstrate your ability to work with relative autonomy in undertaking a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, disseminating findings to your professional community

Indicative content:

• Creating and contributing to research and evaluation for practice 
• Application of approaches to research, research methods including improvement and evaluation methodologies
•  Project planning 
• Data Analysis & Interpretation 
• Data Management 
• Dissemination of findings 
• Challenges in applying study outcomes to practice
•  Addressing inclusivity in your research process.

This module enables you to critically reflect on and evaluate the key components of integrated health and social care required to effectively support service users, carers and their families who have complex health and care needs.

You’ll learn through content linked to the case studies which are used to frame the module. This will include specific interventions related to physical and psycho-social challenges in addressing complex needs of patients with acute and long term conditions across a range of delivery settings in which you will work with other disciplines. Other elements of content will address the following:

• Co-morbidity
• Policy and legislation
• Care pathways
• Clinical reasoning
• Integrated care and advanced practitioner roles
• Leadership

This module enables you to demonstrate competent, accurate and safe practice for a range of clinical skills. You’ll also be able to show the professional attitudes and behaviours expected within the boundaries of legal, ethical and professional frameworks, as required by the HCPC.   

You’ll apply learning and skills such as: 

• Effective communication skills with staff, service users and carers 

• Applying theory to practice  

• Knowledge of surface and radiographic anatomy 

• Varied experiences to aid skills development for qualification 

• Recording objectives and reflections on placements 

• Acting on feedback for skills development  

• Working within departmental treatment protocols, IR(ME)R, SCoR code of conduct and HCPC standards 

To develop your knowledge & understanding of oncology and the multi-modality approach to patient management of complex cancer sites. 

To enable you to consider the impact of cancer and its management on the patient and their family in order to evaluate the role of relevant information and support strategies that can address their physical and/or psychological needs during radiotherapy and in the long term. 

To enable you to evaluate current and emerging/future technology and equipment used, and appraise approaches to radiotherapy planning, delivery, and verification. 

The module is primarily delivered via remote learning at a distance to the classroom, using technology to enhance learning, through synchronous or asynchronous activity and learning materials.  

With a scheduled period of 1-2 weeks of in-person teaching in trimester 1 using face-to-face seminars, tutorials, demonstrations and practical teaching sessions to apply learning, and prepare for future placement experience using simulated practice in our specialist spaces using technical equipment and simulated practice.  

Indicative content: 

Technology, equipment & radiation science including: 

• Radiotherapy Planning Practice 
• Functional Imaging 
• Specialist approaches to radiotherapy delivery for example; Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Brachytherapy, Proton therapy 
• Image Interpretation and decision making  
• Application of Image Guided Radiotherapy 
• Radiotherapy errors and incident reporting  
• Human Factors  
• Technological Advances e.g., Adaptive Radiotherapy, MR Linac etc. 
• Dosimetric verification 

Oncology & patient care including: 

• Female Reproductive system 
• Upper Respiratory system 
• Upper Digestive system 
• Endocrine System 
• Central Nervous System 
• The physical, psycho-sexual, and psychosocial impact of cancer and its treatment, and the ways in which these might be managed/ minimised. 
• Palliative Care & End of Life care 

Additional skills: 

• Appraisal of evidence-based practice 
• Academic writing skills 
• Production of professional work for presentation