Further Education in Radiotherapy Programme description

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 radiotherapists from the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO).

The programme’s target group is radiographers.

Bachelor’s degree in radiography or other three-year study programme in radiography.

Ranking

If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of places on the programme, the applicants will be ranked according to how many competitive points they have. Competitive points are the sum of grade points and additional points.

Additional points are awarded for relevant work experience to applicants who have practised as radiographers or similar. Additional points are awarded for relevant education to applicants who have other education in radiography or similar. Five additional points can also be awarded to applicants who receive a salary/grant from a radiotherapy centre during the period of study.

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

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 competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of oncology and cancer therapy
• 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 apply knowledge to new fields in the discipline

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
• can organise and carry out an independent project based on scientific method(s)

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 cooperation with and an understanding of other professions’ expertise and areas of work and responsibility

The programme consists of five mandatory 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 topic 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 Radiotherapy

The course covers treatment plans, treatment planning, assessment of radiobiological effects and quality assurance in radiotherapy. The course is also offered as a master’s degree course to students in the master’s degree programme in biomedicine. This means that the group of students may comprise both further education and master’s degree students.

STRÅL6200 – Thesis

The course consists entirely of a project that concerns a relevant topic in the field of radiotherapy. 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 the course STRÅL6010 before they can take the exam in STRÅL6020.
• STRÅL6020 and the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-101 must be approved before the student can start the clinical training period STRÅLPRA-102.
• STRÅL6020 must be approved before the student can take the exam in the course STRÅL6200.

Godkjent av studieutvalget ved fakultet LUI 18. desember 2014 og etablert av fakultetsstyret 22. januar 2015. Revidert versjon godkjent av studieutvalget ved fakultet LUI 5. mars 2015. Redaksjonell endring foretatt 14. januar 2016 og 6. juli 2017. Revisjon godkjent på fullmakt av leder i utdanningsutvalget 19. desember 2019. Gjeldende fra vårsemesteret 2019. Revisjon godkjent i utdanningsutvalget 13 november 2023. Gjeldende fra høstsemesteret 2024.

Emnet Tolking i komplekse møter gir en videre praktisk-teoretisk innføring i tolkefaget. Emnet omhandler tolking i møter med flere deltakere og ulike språklige registre.

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.

TLK1000 og TLK2400.

The assessment arrangements are intended to assess the students regularly throughout the programme in order to promote learning, while also providing information about study progress and the results achieved to the programme and the student. The assessment of exams and clinical practice is in accordance with the applicable provisions set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

Detailed information about the exam will be provided in the guidelines for the individual exams well before the exam date.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

The grade awarded for a written exam can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and Section 7-3 (2) of the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. For a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Assessment of clinical training

The practical course STRÅLPRA consists of two periods of clinical training: STRÅLPRA-101 and STRÅLPRA-102. The grade pass or fail will be awarded for each;training period. Credits are awarded on completion of both;training periods.

The coursework requirements must be met in order to receive a final assessment in the course. To pass the clinical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirements and achieved the learning outcomes for the course.

The student must attend at least 90 per cent of the scheduled activities in clinical practice. The student will be allowed to make up for absence of between 10 and 20 per cent by agreement with the clinical training supervisor. Absence in excess of 20 per cent means that the whole period must be retaken. This leads to delayed progress and must be seen in conjunction with the student’s individual education plan.

Etter fullført emne har studenten følgende læringsutbytte definert som kunnskap, ferdigheter og generell kompetanse:

Kunnskap

Studenten

• har kunnskap om kontekster knyttet til møter som kan beskrives som komplekse, som for eksempel i rettsforhandlinger, tverrfaglige møter, barnevernssaker og andre møter av sensitiv art, eller møter der språklige registre som benyttes, varierer.
• har kunnskap om tolkens ansvar for tilrettelegging av tolkesituasjonen knyttet til praktiske, tekniske og metodiske muligheter og begrensninger i komplekse møter

Ferdigheter

Studenten

• kan ta kunnskapsbaserte valg av tolkemetoder tilpasset den kommunikative situasjonen og i tråd med yrkesetiske retningslinjer
• kan ta kunnskapsbaserte valg av tolketeknikker tilpasset den kommunikative situasjonen og i tråd med yrkesetiske retningslinjer
• kan ta kunnskapsbaserte valg av oversettelsesstrategier tilpasset den kommunikative situasjonen og i tråd med yrkesetiske retningslinjer
• kan evaluere egen tolking slik at studenten kan videreutvikle sine ferdigheter i tolking, samt videreutvikle sine tospråklige og kommunikative kompetanse

Generell kompetanse

Studenten

• kan gjøre rede for muligheter og begrensninger ved tolking i komplekse møter i teori og praksis
• kan vurdere etiske problemstillinger i tolking i komplekse møter