STRÅL6010 Scientific Subjects and Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy Course description

The course covers the physical and technical aspects that form the basis for radiotherapy and addresses the core subjects of clinical physics, dosimetry, radiotherapy machines and quality assurance.

Scope of the course: 10 credits

• Clinical radiotherapy physics: 4 credits
• Radiotherapy machines: 2 credits
• Dosimetry: 1 credit
• Quality assurance: 1 credit
• Practical radiotherapy: 2 credits

Admission to the programme

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can give an account of ionising radiation physics, properties of the radiation field and discuss factors that affect the dose distribution
• can give an account of key concepts used in radiotherapy and assess dose definitions and norms
• can describe the structure and functioning of radiotherapy machines and other equipment used in radiotherapy
• can give an account of radioactivity and radionuclides used in radiotherapy
• can describe sizes, units and measuring methods in dosimetry
• can give an account of legislation, regulations and guidelines relating to radiotherapy
• can evaluate radiation protection in connection with external and internal radiotherapy
• can give an account of quality assurance systems and discuss quality development in radiotherapy

Skills

The student

• can argue for and evaluate the choice of patient position and immobilisation
• can apply and evaluate techniques and equipment used in connection with radiotherapy
• can carry out and discuss basic dose calculations and simulations
• can carry out geometric and dosimetric calculations
• can carry out controls of radiotherapy equipment and planned treatment

General competence

The student

• can communicate science issues and solutions relating to radiotherapy
• can analyse and critically assess quality assurance, non-conformities and handling of non-conformities in radiotherapy
• can assess the professional function, responsibility and role of the radiotherapist, and adjust his/her own professional practice under supervision

The work and teaching methods used are lectures, self-study, workshops, group and project work, as well as skills training and lab exercises under supervision.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam

• minimum 80 per cent attendance in connection with the introduction to the study programme, skills training, lab exercises, workshops and scheduled group and project work
• project assignment in scientific subjects, individual written assignment of approx. 2,500 words

Supervised individual written exam, 4 hours

Calculator

Grade scale A-F.

An external and internal examiner will assess all exams.