Physiotherapy Programme Programme description

The Bachelor’s Programme in Physiotherapy is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits). Students who complete the programme are awarded the degree of Bachelor in Physiotherapy, which forms the basis for one year’s practical training. After completing the programme and one year’s approved practical training, candidates can apply for authorisation as a physiotherapist pursuant to the Act relating to Health Personnel.

The programme description has been drawn up on the basis of the National Regulations relating to a Common Curriculum for Health and Social Care Education and the Regulations on national guidelines for physiotherapy education adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research. The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

The goal of physiotherapy is to improve the prerequisites for functioning, health, coping and self-realisation. Physiotherapists can contribute by building a foundation for physical learning and movement, and by affecting specific conditions of importance to an individual’s activity and participation.

Physiotherapy is both a field of knowledge and a profession. Physiotherapy provides knowledge about physical, psychological, social and existential dimensions of the human being, and the body, movement, functioning and interaction with surroundings lie at the heart of the field of knowledge. The theoretical foundation comprises knowledge from natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

Physiotherapists come into contact with people of all ages, with different diseases, injuries and levels of functioning, and from different social and cultural backgrounds. Physiotherapists have a duty to safeguard everyone’s right to equitable services.

Physiotherapy is practised via person-centred and evidence-based, reflective processes that include examination, assessment, clinical diagnostics, goal setting, measures and evaluation. Physiotherapy measures include manual techniques, exercises and guidance, as well as adaptation and adjustments in the user’s environment. Physiotherapists work with individuals and groups and at the cross-sector system level. The profession contributes to interprofessional cooperation and shares the responsibility for ensuring that habilitation and rehabilitation processes meet the user’s need for coordinated and comprehensive services.

The physiotherapy programme at OsloMet is based on the university’s values. Diversity and equality are fundamental values in the practice of physiotherapy in a diverse population. The programme therefore facilitates learning experiences that provide an understanding of individuals with unique life experiences, in all phases of life, and who live their lives in different arenas.

Relevance to working life

Physiotherapists work in local rehabilitation services, healthy life centres, schools/kindergartens, public health centres, nursing homes, home-based services and physiotherapy clinics. Physiotherapists also work in a number of fields in the specialist health service and are often employed at hospitals and rehabilitation institutions. At these institutions, physiotherapists contribute in health services for patients in the acute phase of disease and the early rehabilitation phase, as well as for patients who need specialised rehabilitation. Physiotherapists’ work also includes tasks relating to working life, including assessment, guidance and adaptation of the user’s working environment.

Relevance to further education

A bachelor’s in physiotherapy qualifies students for admission to several different further education and master’s programmes, both at OsloMet and at other institutions in Norway and abroad. OsloMet offers master’s programmes in physiotherapy, and rehabilitation and habilitation.

The target group is everyone who wishes to work as a physiotherapist. Applicants should be motivated to take responsibility for their own learning, cooperate with fellow students and enter a profession that involves a therapeutic relationshipwith people.

The admission requirements are the Higher Education Entrance Qualification or an assessment of prior learning and work experience, cf. the Regulations for admission to higher education. In connection with admission to the Bachelor’s Programme in Physiotherapy, applicants must submit a transcript of police records.

The use of clothing that covers the face is incompatible with taking the programme’s theoretical and practical training courses. During the practical training, the students must comply with the clothing regulations in force at all times at the relevant practical training establishment.

Requirements for admission based on prior learning and work experience

• The applicant must be over 25 years of age
• The applicant can not have general study competence
• The applicant must document a minimum of five year full-time professional experience within the teaching, health or social sector or equivalent, where the applicant has worked with patients, students or clients.

Course requirements

• Norwegian 393 hours
• English 140 hours

The further education programme in radiotherapy is a full-time programme with a duration of one year. The study programme has a total scope of 60 credits (ECTS). The programme qualifies students for independent work as radiotherapists pursuant to the Regulations relating to Radiation Protection and Use of Radiation (the Radiation Protection Regulations) Section 48 letter e).

The field of radiotherapy is in continuous development. Developments in medical technology are rapid and wide-ranging. New knowledge is being obtained in the areas of oncology, radiobiology and clinical physics. The amount of information about individual patients is increasing, and the available treatment is becoming more and more advanced. This enables more individually adapted treatment that aims to achieve improved life expectancy and/or better quality of life for the patients.

The quality of the available treatment is dependent on the education of radiotherapists who are highly qualified in all areas of the field of radiotherapy. The further education programme in radiotherapy gives the students the necessary basis for working as radiotherapists and a basis for subsequently keeping up-to-date with developments in the field.

Radiotherapists deal with patients in a serious condition, which places great demands on their professional practice. Cancer patients need close follow-up, good information and necessary care. Many patients receive treatment over a long period, and the radiotherapy personnel are often their primary contact.

Radiotherapy is very much an activity where success depends on good cooperation between several disciplines. Improvements in radiotherapy require the different professions to have a good knowledge of each other’s discipline. Radiotherapists must therefore have good knowledge of the work of oncologists and medical physicians.

The programme description was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. The programme description also takes into account the European core curriculum for radiation therapists developed by the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the European Federation of Radiographer Societies’ (EFRS) benchmarking document for EQF level 7.

Bachelor’s degree in radiography or equivalent.

Five additional points can be awarded to applicants who provide documentation that they are prioritized for admission to the upcoming academic year by a radiation therapy center.

Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet for more detailed provisions on admission requirements, calculation of points and ranking of applicants.

The purpose of the further education in radiotherapy is to educate patient-oriented, independent and reflective professionals who will engage in interdisciplinary cooperation. The candidates are expected to acquire competence that ensures that they practise their profession in accordance with applicable requirements and guidelines.

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

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of oncology and cancer therapy, including personalised cancer treatment
• has in-depth knowledge of cancer care that is relevant to radiotherapy patients and their next of kin
• has advanced knowledge of the biological aspects that form the basis for radiotherapy
• has advanced knowledge of the physical and technical aspects that form the basis for radiotherapy
• has advanced knowledge of the radiotherapy process, treatment preparations and the clinical pathway involved in radiotherapy
• has in-depth knowledge of quality assurance and control, monitoring and verification in radiotherapy
• has detailed knowledge of laws, regulations and recommendations relating to radiotherapy
• can assess knowledge in new fields of radiotherapy

Skills

The candidate

• knows how to identify and attend to the patient’s need for care and follow-up in connection with radiotherapy
• knows how to use communication techniques and communicative competence when dealing with patients and their next of kin
• can carry out radiotherapy in accordance with applicable guidelines and procedures in an independent manner
• can critically analyse and assess planned radiotherapy based on physical and biological aspects
• can critically analyse and assess quality assurance and quality control methods in radiotherapy
• can collect, critically assess and refer to information and subject matter in order to structure, formulate and communicate professional arguments
• can analyse and critically assess research results and other sources of information in order to make use of such information in his/her professional practice

General competence

The candidate

• knows how to treat patients and next of kin with empathy and respect
• can practise the profession in a safe and responsible manner in accordance with legal requirements and ethical standards for professional practice
• can organise, critically assess and quality assure his/her own work
• masters the forms of expression used in radiotherapy and can communicate theories, problems and solutions relating to the field
• can perform evidence-based work to ensure updated professional practice and development
• can initiate and contribute constructively to work in teams and demonstrates an understanding of other professions’ expertise and areas of work and responsibility
• can contribute to interdisciplinary cooperation on developing the quality of radiotherapy

The programme consists of five compulsory courses:

STRÅL6010 – Scientific Subjects and Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy The course covers basic knowledge of radiotherapy: clinical physics, dosimetry, knowledge of equipment/machines and quality assurance.

STRÅL6020 – Oncology and Cancer Care The course covers general and specific oncology, and communication with and care for cancer patients, with special emphasis on the care needs that arise during radiotherapy.

STRÅLPRA – Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy The course consists of two periods of clinical training (STRÅLPRA-101 and STRÅLPRA-102) and covers treatment planning, performance and quality assurance of radiotherapy, as well as patient care.

STRÅL6110 – Radiobiology and Treatment Planning in RadiotherapyThe course covers treatment plans, treatment planning, assessment of radiobiological effects and quality assurance in radiotherapy.

STRÅL6300 – Protons in Radiotherapy The course covers the physical, biological and technical aspects that form the basis for proton therapy.

The courses build on each other with increasing requirements for knowledge and understanding of radiography. All courses conclude in a final assessment/exam.

The academic year is 40 weeks long, and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students’ own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following provisions on progress apply to the study programme:

• Students must have passed STRÅL6010 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6020.
• Students must have passed STRÅL6020 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6110.
• STRÅL6020 and the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-101 must be approved before the student can start the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-102.
• Students must have passed STRÅL6110 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6300.

The programme’s learning outcomes cover a broad spectrum. This requires varied and complex work and teaching methods in order to support students’ learning process. The work methods promote learning processes that build on the students’ own activity and responsibility for their own learning. Students are expected to use problem-solving work methods and develop their ability to work both in groups and independently. A good learning outcome is first and foremost dependent on the students’ own effort. This applies both to benefiting from teaching and academic supervision and to independent work in the form of theoretical studies and practical skills training. Independent work includes both cooperation with fellow students and individual work.

The following work and teaching methods are used in the course: lectures, digital learning resources, seminars, skills training, lab exercises, clinical training, self-study, project work and other independent or group assignments. The students may also be taken on excursions.

The students will receive regular supervision and feedback throughout the study period, both in connection with theoretical tuition, written assignments and clinical training.

LecturesLectures will primarily be used to introduce important subject matter. The purpose of the lectures is to highlight connections and main elements in topics, and to communicate relevant issues. The theory lectures will mainly take place at Oslo University Hospital (OUS) – the Norwegian Radium Hospital, or through the use of digital learning resources.

Seminars Seminars are used to focus on a specific topic and require active participation by the students. The seminars are led by the course lecturer and are a forum for discussing and communicating issues in the field of radiography. Seminars normally require advance preparation, which can be done using digital resources, academic texts, articles and interactive assignments.

Written assignments The students will work continuously throughout the study period on written reports and project assignments, individually and in groups. Presentations in plenary sessions to fellow students, lecturers and others may also be relevant. The work will give the students experience of presenting their own knowledge, experience and opinions, in writing and orally. Students will receive feedback on their written assignments from the supervisor and/or fellow students.

Skills training and lab exercisesSkills training and lab exercises take place in smaller groups. In clinical practice in radiotherapy, skills training will take place in different modalities where the students acquire skills through clinical training and reflection. In clinical physics and dosimetry, lab exercises will be carried out and tuition will be provided in how to conduct different measurements and calculations.

Clinical training ensures that the students participate in real-life activities that provide insight into and experience of issues that arise in a radiotherapist’s area of work. The students will be given an opportunity to test, process and develop knowledge obtained through other work methods.

Clinical training will take place in the course STRÅLPRA Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy, worth 15 credits. The students will undergo placements for the purpose of developing new knowledge, skills and general competence through direct contact with the professional field. Based on theory and experience gained earlier in the study programme, the students will immerse themselves in theoretical and practical knowledge that is important in the professional field.

Clinical training can take place at any one of the radiotherapy centres in Norway. Students may be assigned placements outside Oslo. Reference is made to the course description for STRÅLPRA for more information about the organisation and content of the clinical training.

The literature used in the study programme will mainly be international specialist and research literature in English. Clinical training may be conducted abroad by arrangement. The study programme will facilitate international guest lectures.