Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology (Pre-registration) MSc

This is the second of four Radiotherapy Theory and Clinical Practice modules, in the MSc Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology programme. This module will develop the learner’s knowledge and skills in the role of the Therapeutic Radiographer in the management of breast, bladder and gynaecological cancers.

The module will introduce the learner to the oncology management of common cancers found in the breast, bladder and female reproductive system.

Skills include: technical, communication, professionalism, and compassion, with a clear focus on patients with cancers of the breast, bladder and female reproductive system.

A blended teaching approach will be used which includes: guided independent study, case study-based tutorials, lectures, e-lectures, and practical sessions in the Human Anatomy Resource Centre (HARC). Planning and treatment simulation using the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy (VERT) and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning System (TPS) will be used to link clinical and academic knowledge and skills. Engagement with expert speakers and service users will enable learners to develop a complex understanding of diversity, inter-professional working, psycho-social and communication issues which may impact upon patient management in breast, bladder and gynaecological cancers.

Alternating academic and clinical blocks will allow learners to develop and consolidate academic underpinning knowledge through observation and practice. Scheduled academic advisor meetings will be used to help learners develop action plans for their personal, academic and clinical development.

The module assessment comprises three components:
Unseen electronic exam, oral case-based presentation with a focus on critical appraisal of the multi-modal management of a patient case (breast, bladder or gynaecological cancer pelvis) and clinical assessment.

Clinical skills will be assessed continually by clinical mentors through placement weeks across the academic semester. Assessment marks and formative feedback will be recorded by clinical mentors and learners using PARE.

This is a Level 7, 10 credit module which is part of the pre-registration MSc Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology programme.
This module will use and develop further the knowledge, understanding and skills established in the first semester’s studies to establish everyday theoretical clinical practice for on-treatment delivery and verification. Running in parallel with the radiotherapy theory and clinical practice module in the semester (RADT 410), this module will take forward the fundamental scientific knowledge acquired academically and clinically, to establish the use of these technologies as used in the clinical departments; using authentic case studies of machine breakdown, dose calculation, challenging on-treatment decision making such as: verification issues (both geometric and dosimetric) and radiobiological modelling, particularly for fractionation schedule changes and unintended interruptions. Both photon and charged particle therapies will be considered.
The module is delivered using lectures, e-lectures, practical sessions and group seminars. Tutorial support will be offered to learners to discuss physical concepts in a safe environment and discuss answers to online formative assessments. More able learners will be encouraged to offer peer support in these sessions with tutor support.

There is one element of assessment, consisting of an unseen two hour e-examination which enable learners to demonstrate critical appraisal and academic writing skills required at level 7.

This module will enable students to develop a research proposal for either a review of evidence, empirical project, clinical audit or service evaluation that will contribute to the development of evidence-based healthcare practice.

The module is aimed at graduates from a range of different disciplines/subjects who have a range of knowledge and experience of research methods at undergraduate level and are looking to develop their research knowledge and skills further and prepare for a masters level research project in their own area of clinical practice e.g. diagnostic radiography, mental health nursing, occupational therapy or physiotherapy. The likely range of research skills in students from different undergraduate programmes is recognised and this module is designed to raise them all to the appropriate master level in the subject.
At the end of this module, students will be able to understand and appropriately critique the elements of ‘the research journey’ from conception of research question, through development of a proposal. They will be both consumers and producers of research who will meet the requirements of the standard of proficiency, for each profession, as laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council and the requirements of each professional body for evidence based practice.
The proposal produced in this module will then be undertaken as the students’ dissertation in the final year of their pre-registration master programme.

The syllabus for this module is aligned to the Curriculum 2021 Hallmarks and demonstrates active learning and authentic assessment, designed to create students with greater confidence to understand research evidence, contribute to that evidence and be able to develop research in their own area of professional practice.

The module delivery will use a blended approach with face to face and online delivery supported with synchronous and asynchronous lectures, quizzes and profession specific interactive discussion boards and tutorials.

The assessments for this module will be a Research Proposal. The assessments can be tailored to focus on the student’s area of interest and area of speciality and will include consideration of the ethical requirements of the selected project.

This is a Level 6, 10 credit module which is part of the pre-registration MSc Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology programme. The successful learner will develop their knowledge and skills in the fundamental sciences needed for safe and effective radiotherapy practice.
Content will focus on foundational concepts of radiation interactions and production, radiotherapy equipment, radiation protection computerised treatment planning, fundamental radiobiological principles and the basis of radiation dose measurement.

The module is delivered using lectures, e-lectures, practical sessions and group seminars. Tutorial support will be offered to learners to discuss physical concepts in a safe environment and discuss answers to online formative assessments. More able learners will be encouraged to offer peer support in these sessions with tutor support. Maths tutorials will also be provided if required.

There is one element of assessment, consisting of a 2-hour unseen written examination.

This module is designed to encompass the whole radiotherapy patient journey, including clinically relevant anatomy and physiology, for non-melanoma skin, prostate and colorectal cancers. Careful structuring of e-lectures, online small group tutorials, online case tutorials, self-directed learning and simulated learning encompasses the programme design core value of an engaging, authentic curricula. This is the first of four Radiotherapy Theory and Clinical Practice modules in the MSc Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology programme. This module will introduce the learner to the key concepts of cancer behaviour and management, with specific reference to three common cancer sites. The study of carcinogenesis; and the anatomy and physiology of the systems of the body, will provide learners with foundational knowledge which will be applied to understand cancer development, presentation and routes of spread. Learners will gain knowledge of benign and malignant conditions; systems used to describe the size and spread of cancer; how these cancers can present a range of signs and symptoms; and health promotion strategies employed to improve early diagnosis. The psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis, prognosis, burden of treatment related side-effects and the role of the Therapeutic Radiographer and wider oncology multi-disciplinary team in supporting a patient will be explored.

The module will develop the learners radiotherapy clinical skills and knowledge, including technical skills, communication skills, professionalism, resilience and compassion through clinical placement and simulation; as well as develop a foundation level understanding of the roles of the professional body (Society and College of Radiographers(SCoR)) and regulator (Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)).

A blended teaching approach will be used which includes: guided independent study, case-study based tutorials, e-lectures, online practical sessions in the Human Anatomy Resource Centre (HARC) and clinical placement.
Lectures and electronic resources will be used to provide learners with an underpinning knowledge of oncology and the profession and core skills required for clinical practice. Tutorials will enable learners to practise clinical skills including basic life support (BLS) and infection control as well as communication through roleplay and interactions with service users. Treatment simulation using the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy (VERT) and the Radiotherapy clinical skill suite will be used to link clinical and academic knowledge and skills.

The module assessment comprises three components:
Electronic unseen exam, a written reflective assignment; and clinical assessment.

This is a level 7, 10 credit module which is part of the pre-registration MSc Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology Programme, and will use and develop further the knowledge, understanding and skills of master’s learners established in the first three semesters of study. It will enable the learner to appreciate and appraise advanced practice topics, technologies and techniques used in radiotherapy; whilst interpreting and evaluating the data and information transfer processes and the clinical consequences of errors within the radiotherapy information pathway within a clinical department. Current and evidence-based radiotherapy technologies and techniques will be studied and critiqued, leaning heavily on the roles of on-treatment verification and the typical treatment planning/delivery roles of the therapeutic radiographer in clinical practice.
The module is delivered using lectures, e-lectures, practical sessions and group seminars. Tutorial support will be given to learners to discuss the concepts and characteristics of the latest technologies and techniques in radiotherapy, all of this will be undertaken safe environment. Opportunities will be afforded to discuss answers to online formative assessments. More able learners will be encouraged to offer peer support in these sessions with tutor support.
There are two elements of assessment, consisting of written assignments, which enable learners to demonstrate critical appraisal and academic writing skills at level 7.

This is a level 7, 20 credit module which is part of the pre-registration Masters programme in Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology. This module will introduce the learner to the role of the Therapeutic Radiographer in the management of rare cancers including glioblastoma, pituitary adenoma, myeloprolifferative malignancy and palliation of for example bone metastases and spinal cord compression.
A blended teaching approach will be used which including independent study, case study based tutorials, lectures, modified problem based learning (PBL), practicals at the Human Anatomy Resource Centre (HARC), as well as planning and treatment simulation using the Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy (VERT), Eclipse and Aria Radiotherapy Treatment Planning System. Workshops with service users (radiotherapy patients and carers), Clinical Educators, Specialist Radiotherapy Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) will highlight diversity, inter-professional working, psychosocial and communication issues in patient management.

Alternating academic and clinical blocks will allow learners to develop and consolidate academic underpinning knowledge through observation and practice. Scheduled academic advisor meetings will be used to help learners develop action plans for their personal, academic and clinical development.

The module assessment comprises three components:
Unseen Electronic Examination ; pass = 50%, clinical assessment (PARE; pass = compeptence) and written Case Study assignment; pass = 50% with a focus on critical appraisal of the complex issues relating to the management of rare cancers and palliation drawing on clinical trials and the current literature.

This is a level 7, 10 credit module which is part of the pre-registration Masters programme in Therapeutic Radiography & Oncology.
This module will use and develop further the knowledge, understanding and skills established in the first semester’s studies to establish authentic clinical practical and analytical skills in the key processes of treatment planning and on-treatment verification imaging used for radiotherapy. Running in parallel with the oncology modules within the course the module will develop and apply the practical skills needed for preparing and verifying geometrically radiotherapy for the cases used for cancers of the breast and pelvis. The module utilises a blended approach of e-lectures, tutorials, seminars, virtual reality technology and clinical simulation to complement the oncology case-based approach.
There are two elements of assessment, consisting of two 1,500-word assignments (3,000 words in total) assessing practical planning and imaging skills which will enable learners to demonstrate critical
appraisal and academic writing skills at level 7.

This module is designed to encompass the whole radiotherapy patient journey, including clinically relevant anatomy and physiology, for the oncology sites of the head, neck and thorax. Oncology and radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery are intrinsically linked; therefore, learners will learn anatomy contouring for treatment planning alongside 3D anatomy as part of the integrated patient pathway. Careful structuring of e-lectures, small group tutorials, case tutorials, self-directed learning, simulated learning and clinical placement encompasses the programme design core value of an engaging, authentic curricula. The module will introduce the learner to the oncology management of common cancers found in the head, neck and thorax. Learners will be supported to develop their academic reasoning skills through critical evaluation of the evidence base, and develop their radiotherapy clinical skills and application of academic learning in clinical placement. The module assessment comprises three components:
Unseen Electronic Exam; A written case-based assignment with a focus on critical appraisal of the multi-modality management of a patient case (head, neck or thorax); and continuous clinical assessment.

Clinical skills will be assessed by clinical mentors through placement weeks across the academic semester. Assessment marks and formative feedback will be recorded by clinical mentors and learners using the PARE system.

Learners will be encouraged to develop their lifelong learning skills by completing short formative clinical reflections and clinical technique logs; collected by the learner in a practice e-portfolio started in RADT420. This e-portfolio will be continually built on and developed during the programme providing a foundation for continual professional development (CPD) post-qualification, an essential requirement for HCPC registration.

This module comprises the dissertation for the preregistration healthcare programmers. It will enable students to undertake a piece of empirical research, a service evaluation/audit or a review of evidence in their chosen field of interest.