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 1 - 2025

There are no availabilities for this unit on or after Term 1 - 2025

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 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 60.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 10.42% 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 reflection SUTE
Feedback
Although attendance in tutorials is excellent, student engagement and participation in tutorial discussions are extremely poor.
Recommendation
Investigate options such as use of MS docs etc. to encourage student engagement and participation in tutorials.
Action Taken
Small group activities were built into the tutorial sessions to encourage student engagement and participation.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection Informal student feedback
Feedback
Provision of breakdown of question types, marks and time budget in preparation for the tests were well received by students.
Recommendation
Continue with the provision of breakdown of question types, marks and time budget in preparation for the tests.
Action Taken
This approach was continued in the current iteration of the unit.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection Informal student feedback
Feedback
Provision of a practice test supported students in preparing for the in-class invigilated test.
Recommendation
Maintain the provision of a practice test to support students in preparing for the in-class invigilated test.
Action Taken
This approach was maintained in the current iteration of the unit.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection Informal student feedback
Feedback
The first few weeks of the term have a larger volume of content which impacts on student engagement during these weeks.
Recommendation
Investigate the potential to adjust weekly content to balance out weekly volume across the term.
Action Taken
Content was reviewed and lecture videos were updated for the first few weeks of the unit.
Source: Unit Coordinator reflection
Feedback
The 1.5 hour tutorial sessions were well received by the students.
Recommendation
Consider adapting the weekly tutorial to a 1.5 hour duration in future versions to support student engagement and learning.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator reflection SUTE
Feedback
Small group activities in tutorials encouraged greater student participation and engagement.
Recommendation
Investigate the option of having small group activities in tutorials in future units to continue fostering high levels of student participation and engagement.
Action Taken
In Progress
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