STRÅL6300 Protons in Radiotherapy Course description

The course focuses on the physical, technical and radiobiological aspects of planning proton radiotherapy treatment. The course includes equipment, fixation, imaging, dose planning and assessment of dose distribution as well as quality assurance of planned proton radiotherapy.

Students must have passed the course STRÅL6110 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6300.

The course is also offered as an individual course if there are vacant places. 

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 discuss the physical and radiobiological aspects of proton radiation and describe other particle radiation
• can explain accelerator technology and discuss different radiation techniques used in proton therapy
• can assess fixation and imaging in connection with planning proton therapy treatment
• can explain dose planning (dose calculation, dose distribution, robustness and different optimisation techniques) in proton therapy
• can explain which diagnoses/patients will benefit more from proton therapy than photon therapy, with respect to treatment effect and/or radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity
• can analyse professional issues relating to proton therapy
• can explain and assess uncertainties relating to dosage delivery for proton therapy
• can explain quality assurance and control, monitoring and verification of proton therapy
• can explain radiation reactions/side effects and follow-up of patients receiving proton therapy

Skills 

The student 

• can work independently and optimise proton dose plans when employing different techniques
• can independently assess and analyse any uncertainties relating to treatment planning and proton treatment
• can independently assess the need for adaption and changes during treatment
• can analyse dose distribution for proton plans and apply it when assessing different radiotherapy alternatives (e.g. photons)
• can independently apply radiobiological models for calculating biological effect 

General competence

The student

• can communicate independent work and masters the forms of expression used in the field
• can communicate about issues, analyses and conclusions in the field of proton therapy, with patients, next of kin, specialists and the general public
• can interact with members of his/her own professional field and across disciplines when planning radiotherapy
• can actively contribute to the development of national/local guidelines for particle/proton treatment therapy
• can actively contribute to innovation processes and clinical studies

The work and teaching methods used are lectures, digital learning resources, reflection assignments and discussion forums linked to the topics. Skills training, seminars and written assignments are also used as preparation for organised interaction and peer-based feedback. 

Students work on three individual written project assignments of 1,000 words (+/- 10 per cent). One written piece of feedback is given per assignment, provided that the student submits the assignment by the stipulated deadline. The assignments will later form part of the portfolio assessment (see assessment and exam). 

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

• minimum 80 per cent attendance in compulsory activities

Individual portfolio exam. The portfolio must contain three written assignments of 1,000 words (+/- 10 per cent) per assignment.

One overall grade is awarded. The three assignments in the portfolio count equally towards the grade. The three assignments must be assessed as A-E (pass) in order to pass the exam.  

Resit exam: If one or more of the assignments is awarded an F (fail), the student will be given one (1) opportunity to submit a reworked version.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

An external and an internal examiner will assess all exams.

The course is offered as an individual course if there are vacant places. Admission to the course is contingent on completed further education in radiotherapy or equivalent, medical studies specialising in oncology, or a master’s degree in physics specialising in medical physics/biophysics.