Overview
This unit focuses on the main steps in producing a useful digital radiograph. You will learn to control the x-ray beam's production and passage through the structures by judicious selection of technical factors. You will learn to control scatter radiation and recognise its impact on radiographs. You will harness image geometry concepts to control structural appearances on radiographs. You will explore basic concepts of digital imaging technology with a focus on clinical skill in the production, display, manipulation, storage and distribution of digital radiographs. You will become familiar with the attributes of radiographic image quality and the many factors that impact on those attributes.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: MEDI11001 Fundamentals of Imaging Professions MEDI11002 Physics for Health Sciences ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Sciences Co-requisite: MEDI12001 Radiation Science
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Clarity of quizzes and expectations was identified by a few students as an area for improvement.
Consider some example responses to the online tests to demonstrate varying levels of response.
Feedback from SUTE and Unit Coordinator
The unit includes authentic real-world problems throughout the content and assessment tasks.
Continue to include real-world clinical scenarios in quizzes and unit content.
Feedback from CQUniversity Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
The current assessment strategy of online tests does not require 'at the ready' level of knowledge and provides opportunities for breaches of academic integrity.
Consider assessment strategies that will minimise opportunities for academic integrity breaches, such as supervised closed-book tests.
Feedback from Unit teaching team
Post-processing steps that are required for labs are sometimes unfamiliar or unclear.
Consider some additional pictorial guides for specific post-processing requirements in labs.
- Use technical terminology correctly in describing radiographic image appearances
- Apply concepts of image geometry, differential attenuation, scatter production and equipment operation to control radiographic image appearances
- Make reasoned adjustments to technical factor selections according to the attenuating properties of the structures being imaged and the requirements of the imaging system
- Discuss at a basic level the clinical operation of the various digital radiographic image receptors and processing systems
- Discuss at a basic level core concepts of digital image properties, display, manipulation and storage.
This unit links to the following Professional Capabilities for Medical Radiation Practitioners as detailed by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (effective March 2020):
- Domain 1:2 Use clinical information management systems appropriately (parts b and e).
- Domain 1:6 Implement techniques for patient/client stabilisation and reproducibility of procedures and outcomes (part a).
- Domain 1A:1 Perform projection radiography in a range of setting (parts a,b,c,d,f,g).
- Domain 1A:2 Perform fluoroscopy and angiography examinations in a range of settings (part d).
- Domain 5:1 Perform and provide safe radiation practice (parts c and d).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 40% | |||||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) - 60% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Essentials of Radiographic Physics & Imaging
Edition: 3rd (2020)
Authors: James Johnston and Terri Fauber
Elsevier
St. Louis St. Louis , Missouri , USA
ISBN: 9780323566681
Binding: Hardcover
Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics - Exposure - Radiation Biology
Edition: 3rd (2018)
Authors: Quinn B. Carroll
Charles C. Thomas Publisher
Springfield Springfield , Illinois , USA
ISBN: 9780398092146
Binding: eBook
Additional Textbook Information
The text by Carroll will be used regularly in multiple second year units: MEDI12002 Science & Instrumentation 1, MEDI12005 Science & Instrumentation 2 plus MEDI12001 Radiation Science. It is freely available online through the unit eReading List. The eBook version of this text can be purchased through the publisher's website https://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398092146.
The text by Johnston and Fauber may be used at times and will be available through the CQUniversity Library (hardcopy) & unit eReading List (online).
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- CQUniversity PACS
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.williams@cqu.edu.au
c.e.agioritis@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Radiographic image properties and the imaging process
- differential attenuation
- the radiograph as an attenuation map
- image properties (visibility, density, brightness, contrast, unsharpness or blur, spatial resolution, distortion)
- imaging workflow
- introduction to the digital image
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 11,12,13.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial:
- orientation to the radiographic laboratory and PACS
- image properties
Module/Topic
Image Geometry - distortion
- radiographic image geometry
- positioning of the beam, part and image receptor to control radiographic appearances of spatial relationships
- effects of image geometry on the image (superimposition, magnification and shape distortion)
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 14 and 24.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - geometric distortion
Module/Topic
Image Geometry - unsharpness
- line focus principle
- effective vs actual focal spot size
- effect of focal spot size
- effect of image geometry
- unsharpness and visibility
- absorption blur, motion blur
- spatial resolution
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 14, 15, 9, 21, 24.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - unsharpness and spatial resolution
Module/Topic
Scatter on the radiographic image
- control of scatter production
- collimation and positive beam limitation
- control of scatter to the image receptor
- air gap technique
- effect of scatter on visibility
- contrast resolution
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 18 and 20.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - scatter on images
Module/Topic
Control of scatter using grids
- grid construction and types
- grid use
- grid errors
- technical factor compensation
- grid metrics
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapter 20.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - grid use
Module/Topic
Break week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
No lab or tutorial
Online Test Due: Week 6 Wednesday (19 Apr 2023) 11:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Digital radiographic imaging
- properties of the digital radiograph
- digital radiography process of acquisition, processing and display
- visibility of displayed image
- PACS systems and PACS workflow
- DICOM
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 28, 29, 36.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
No lab
Tutorial - digital radiographic imaging
Module/Topic
Digital radiographic image receptor systems
- computed radiography
- image reader
- direct read radiography
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapter 34.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - digital image acquisition
Module/Topic
Radiographic exposure technique (1)
- control of radiation quantity to the image receptor
- exposure index and deviation index
- control of differential attenuation
- effects of kV and mAs change on the recorded image
- noise, mottle and visibility
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 15, 16, 32.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - effects of mAs and kV change
Module/Topic
Radiographic exposure technique (2)
- control of tube heating
- basics of automatic exposure control
- exposure technique charts and anatomical programming
- SID changes and direct square law
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 9, 21, 22, 27.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - other determinants of beam quality and quantity
Module/Topic
Selection of exposure factors
- impact of body part content and size
- exponential attenuation
- formulation of an exposure technique chart
- circumstances requiring exposure technique modification
Chapter
"Radiography in the Digital Age" - selected readings from Chapters 11, 19, 26.
Refer to Moodle for specific pages and any additional readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - exposure technique chart formulation
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab & tutorial - putting it all together
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
This unit is designed to be taken concurrently with MEDI12001 Radiation Science and content from that unit will be referred to and used to develop understanding of the content in this unit. You are expected to spend on average 10 - 12 hours of time each week in your study activities for this unit. A suggested time budget for weekly study is:
- Assigned reading: 1-2 hours
- Watching and taking notes from recorded lectures: 2 hours
- Labs (preparation, lab time, group time): 2 hours
- Tutorial preparation and participation: 2 hours
- Creating your own study notes to meet weekly learning goals using lectures, tutorials, readings and other Moodle
- resources: 2-3 hours
You will also need to spend time throughout term in revision and preparation for the online tests.
When attending lab classes you will be required to adhere to all occupational health and safety requirements related to the use of the Medical Imaging laboratories, including completion of the mandatory radiation safety and lab inductions prior to your first session. You are required to adhere to the Medical Imaging Dress Code for all lab classes.
There is no attendance requirement for any classes in this unit. Tutorials are interactive sessions where your participation enables you to check your understanding of and your ability to apply the week's concepts and for you to build your skills in responding to test questions. Tutorials are closely related to the lab for the week. Your regular and active participation in both labs and tutorials strongly supports your success in the unit. Labs and tutorials are not recorded for this on-campus unit.
1 Online Test
You will complete an online test in Week 6 to demonstrate your ability to apply the concepts and use the terminology from Weeks 1 - 5 of the unit. All questions will be based on the posted weekly learning goals and may include analysis of diagrams, photographs and/or radiographs. Questions may include quiz-style questions (for example multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching), true/false with explanation and written response. Written response questions will be of a similar type to those discussed in weekly tutorials and will require you to apply your knowledge and understanding to a given scenario.
This is an open-book test. It means that during the test you may access your study notes, textbook, the unit Moodle site and/or any website. The standards of academic integrity still apply. All responses must be your own work. Colluding with other students on non-group work is considered academic misconduct. Just as for written assignments, you must also acknowledge intellectual content in your answers that is not your own work. Basic statements of facts are considered 'common knowledge' in the context of this unit so they do not need to be cited. However, if you copy any explanation content word-for-word from ANY source, you must put that content in quotation marks and formally cite your source. Although this is an open-book test, the expectation is that you will be familiar with the unit content and concepts. You should not assume you will have time to look up the answer to every question.
The Moodle online test availability period will be between 9 am - 11 am AEST on Wednesday 19th April 2023. Once you open the test, you will have 90 minutes to complete it, up to the stated due date/time. All unfinished tests will be automatically submitted at that time.
As per the Assessment Procedures, this test must be completed at the timetabled date and time. There is no opportunity to apply a late penalty. In the absence of an approved extension, you cannot complete this assessment at a later time and you will receive a mark of zero for the assessment if you have not submitted it by the scheduled date and time. If you start the test late, you will still be required to submit at the stated closing time.
Week 6 Wednesday (19 Apr 2023) 11:00 am AEST
Week 8 Wednesday (3 May 2023)
Question responses will be scored on the following criteria:
- correct use of terminology
- correct selection and application of core concepts to the specific content of the question
- clarity, correctness, relevance and completeness of the response in addressing the question that was asked
- critical thinking
The number of marks for each question are allocated based on the depth and breadth of the required response, and will be indicated on the online test.
- Use technical terminology correctly in describing radiographic image appearances
- Apply concepts of image geometry, differential attenuation, scatter production and equipment operation to control radiographic image appearances
2 In-class Test(s)
This assessment is an in-class, closed-book, online Moodle test taking place on Friday of Week 13.
As health care professionals, radiographers must consider many variables during the radiographic imaging process and be able to apply their technical knowledge and skills to solve problems as they present clinically. This test includes assessment of content that you should have as 'ready knowledge' in preparation for entry to your first clinical placement. This is material that you should not need to look up or ask others, so this is a closed-book supervised test.
This test will allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of, and ability to apply the concepts and use the terminology from all weeks of the unit, with an emphasis on Weeks 5-11. All questions will be based on the posted weekly learning goals and may include analysis of diagrams, photographs and/or radiographs. Questions may include quiz-style questions (for example multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching), true/false with explanation and written response. Written response questions will be of a similar type to those discussed in weekly tutorials and will require you to apply your knowledge and understanding to a given scenario.
This is a 90 minute test. You will sit this test at your timetabled assessment time on the due date. There are two back-to-back sittings of this test so your test start and end time will depend on your registered session. You should be in attendance at your allocated room 10 minutes prior to your registered session. Further instructions will be provided in Moodle.
This test must be written at the timetabled date and time. As per the Assessment Procedures, this task is to be completed during a defined period. There is no opportunity to apply a late penalty. If you arrive late, you may enter the test room up to 30 minutes after the start of the test; however, you will still be required to submit your test at the standard test end time. You will not be allowed entry more than 30 minutes after the test starts. In the absence of an approved extension, you cannot complete this assessment at a later time, and you will receive a mark of zero for the assessment if you have not completed it by the scheduled date and time. If you have an approved extension, you will be assigned a new test date and time as soon as possible after the original test date, according to availability of a test supervisor and an appropriate room. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can attend at that new assigned date/time. Please see Section 5 of the the University's Assessment Policy and Procedure for details regarding Assessment Management, specifically around assessment extension.
Review/Exam Week Friday (9 June 2023) 12:00 pm AEST
Feedback and test results will be available 2 weeks after date of test.
Question responses will be scored on the following criteria:
- correct use of terminology
- correct selection and application of core concepts to the specific content of the question
- clarity, correctness, relevance and completeness of the response in addressing the question that was asked
- critical thinking
The number of marks for each question are allocated based on the depth and breadth of the required response, and will be indicated on the online Moodle test.
- Use technical terminology correctly in describing radiographic image appearances
- Apply concepts of image geometry, differential attenuation, scatter production and equipment operation to control radiographic image appearances
- Make reasoned adjustments to technical factor selections according to the attenuating properties of the structures being imaged and the requirements of the imaging system
- Discuss at a basic level the clinical operation of the various digital radiographic image receptors and processing systems
- Discuss at a basic level core concepts of digital image properties, display, manipulation and storage.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
