MEDI12001 - Radiation Science

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit prepares you for the safe and effective use of ionising radiation for radiographic imaging in the simulated and clinical environment. The unit covers production and control of the radiation beam, radiation interactions in matter and risk of detriment to the human body from exposure to radiation. Radiation safety and dose minimisation practices are examined in light of current findings on detriment from low level radiation.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites:

MEDI11001 Fundamentals of the Imaging Professions

MEDI11002 Physics for Health Science

ESSC11004 Study and Research Skills for Health Sciences

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2023

Term 1 - 2024 Profile
Mackay

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).

Assessment Overview

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Online Test 40%
2. In-class Test(s) 60%

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

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2022 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 78.57% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 21.54% response rate.

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.

Source: Unit coordinator self-reflection
Feedback
Students appreciated the adaptation of multiple small groups during the tutorials to support their engagement and learning in the unit.
Recommendation
Continue utilising the multiple small group approach in the tutorials so that the students have the opportunity to engage, participate, discuss and answer the tutorial questions with other group members.
Action Taken
Multiple small group approach was maintained for tutorial question discussions throughout the term.
Source: Have your say Unit coordinator reflection
Feedback
Students found the weekly tutorials supported them in reviewing and consolidating the concepts covered in the unit.
Recommendation
Continue with the weekly tutorials to support student learning.
Action Taken
Weekly tutorial sessions were held to review and consolidate concepts learned each week.
Source: Have your say
Feedback
There is an expectation among some students that they can study the unit by reading through the lecture slides only and not watching the pre-recorded lecture videos.
Recommendation
Emphasise the importance of watching the lecture video in conjunction with the lecture slides in the future iteration of the unit.
Action Taken
Moodle announcement forum and the weekly study plans were used to emphasise to students the importance of watching lecture videos in conjunction with the lecture slides.
Source: Have your say Unit coordinator reflection
Feedback
Some students found the first four weeks of the unit, which was physics-content heavy, challenging and they struggled with these topics in their first assessment held in Week 5.
Recommendation
Investigate the option of having the first assessment in Week 6 instead of Week 5 to give students more time to engage with the content and complete the review and consolidation of the topics in preparation for their assessment.
Action Taken
The first assessment was moved to Week 6 in the Term 1, 2022 delivery.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection
Feedback
Many students do not recognise how the tutorials help them build skills for assessment as well as supporting theory knowledge.
Recommendation
Modify the weekly tutorials to include examples of assessment questions and critical evaluation of responses to build theory knowledge and assessment skills in students.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection
Feedback
The provision of individualised feedback with the introduction of a global video feedback in Term 1 2022 reduced student queries regarding marking and where they lost marks.
Recommendation
Maintain provision of a combination of individualised feedback and global video feedback in future iterations of the unit.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: SUTE
Feedback
Some of the students found a few of the lecture videos exhibiting low audio quality.
Recommendation
Review and update lecture videos with low audio quality.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: MI teaching team
Feedback
A closed book, on campus invigilated test compared to an online unsupervised test via Moodle quiz will be a better assessment tool.
Recommendation
Consider implementing a closed book, on campus invigilated test in future iterations of the unit.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Discuss the design, structure and operation of the x-ray tube in the production of x-radiation
  2. Discuss the use of technical parameters, filters and collimation to control the useful x-ray beam's contents and dimensions
  3. Apply underlying physical concepts in discussing the processes of x-ray photon production, x-ray interactions with matter and differential attenuation, in explaining the factors that affect each and in explaining the various metrics of radiation quantity and risk
  4. Discuss current scientific understanding of the bioeffects and associated risks of radiation at the levels used in diagnostic radiology to body cells, tissues and systems across the lifespan
  5. Discuss radiation safety regulations, legislation and associated best practice standards as they apply to occupational exposure and safe use of ionising radiation in diagnostic imaging.

This unit links to the following Professional Capabilities for Medical Radiation Practitioners as detailed by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (effective 1 March 2020):

  • Domain 1 (Medical Radiation Practitioner): Key capability 3 - Understand and apply the different methods of imaging and treatment (Part b - Understand the modalities and equipment used in different imaging and treatment pathways across medical radiation practice)
  • Domain 1 (Medical Radiation Practitioner): Key capability 5 - Assess the patient's/client's capacity to receive care (Part c - Identify patients/clients most at risk, including pregnant women and the foetus, breastfeeding mothers and their children)
  • Domain 2 (Professional and ethical practitioner): Key capability 1 - Practise in an ethical and professional manner, consistent with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements - (Part a- Understand and comply with legal responsibilities)
  • Domain 5 (Radiation safety and risk manager): Key capability 1 - Perform and provide safe radiation practice - (Part a- Comply with relevant radiation safety legislation, Part b - Practice in accordance with relevant radiation safety guidelines, Part c- Apply knowledge of radiobiology and medical radiation physics to examinations/treatment, Part d - Apply knowledge of radiobiology and radiation dose adjustment to deliver safe and effective patient/client outcomes, Part e - Review the referrals and associated examinations/treatment prescriptions to ensure appropriate justification, limitation and optimisation & Part f - Identify radiation risks and implement effective and appropriate risk management systems and procedures )
  • Domain 5 (Radiation safety and risk manager): Key capability 4 - Maintain safety of the workplace and associated environments - (Part a- Identify safety hazards in the workplace and respond to incidents )including radiation and radioactivity incidents) in a timely and appropriate manner, in accordance with protocols and procedures, Part b - Report on all incidents (including radiation and radioactivity incidents) as needed, Part c - Manage the environmental risks of manufactured radiation and radioactivity, Part d - Identify, confirm and implement methods of radiation management, Part e - Use safe and legal methods for managing manufactured radiation sources, including using appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment and complying with shielding requirements, Part f - Use safe and legal methods for storing and disposing radioactive material and identify and minimise occupancy risks about proximity of radiation and radioactive storage. g. Provide information on radiation-related hazards and control measures to others in the workplace).

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Test • • •
2 - In-class Test(s) • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • •
8 - Ethical practice •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10