Fundamentals of Radiographic Practice
| Module title | Fundamentals of Radiographic Practice |
|---|---|
| Module code | PAM1020 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Mike Gundry () Dr Ben Sherlock () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 74 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce physical and technical concepts relating to Medical Imaging. You will develop knowledge and understanding of physical principles, equipment and technical aspects involved in general and fluoroscopic radiography. You will undertake supervised practical sessions demonstrating the principles taught. You will also learn about and undertake supervised practice of patient positioning for projectional radiographs of various parts of the human body. This training includes the important clinical and radiation safety measures required for clinical practice.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will develop essential skills and gain knowledge of the essential science underpinning the various radiation imaging modalities. The module further aims to provide introductory knowledge of radiation biology, physics and techniques sufficient for you to subsequently appreciate the legislative framework which is fundamental to clinical practice.
This module prepares you for your first year clinical placement using academic and practical experiences that will be directly relevant to your clinical experiences.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Explain the physical and scientific principles on which image formation using ionising and non-ionising radiation is based;
- 2. Describe how radiation imparts damage to tissue and how the energy imparted is quantified;
- 3. Explain the principles of radiation protection, radiation safety and appreciate the constraints placed upon practice, both by radiation safety and legislative frameworks;
- 4. Describe the techniques of basic level x-radiography and fluoroscopy including selection of appropriate exposure factors;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Use appropriate sources of information to develop own knowledge;
- 6. Display mathematical skills sufficient to support study of Medical Imaging
- 7. Use appropriate IT packages used in Medical Imaging;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Manage time and, with guidance, prioritise workloads;
- 9. Demonstrate basic problem-solving skills;
- 10. Work cooperatively within a team.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
Mathematical skills
Numbers, physical quantities, symbols and units.
Operations: fractions; powers, roots, reciprocals,
Equations: simplifying, rearranging and solving.
Graphs and functions, Cartesian and polar coordinates, 2D and 3D.
Physics concepts
Molecules, atoms, nuclei, electrons, ions.
Size of atoms, atomic mass, isotopes.
Electromagnetic spectrum, photons.
X-ray production: Bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation
Radioactive decay: alpha- , beta-, and gamma-decay.
DC circuits: current, voltage, resistance, energy and power.
Overview of digital electronics: bits and ADC.
Radiation, radiation protection and dosimetry
Overview of ionising radiation in diagnosis and therapy.
X-ray interaction: Rayleigh scattering, photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production.
Basic radiobiology.
Radiation dose, radiation units
Dosimetry: practical devices, including personnel monitoring.
Overview of legislation and regulations for radiation protection -The Ionising
Radiations Regulations 1999; The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations
2017 Local Rules
Technical aspects of x-radiography and fluoroscopy:
Standard equipment. Standard imaging procedures.
Patient care, infection control and hand hygiene.
Safe and efficient practice.
Evaluation and interpretation of images.
Patient positioning of the axial skeleton, appendicular skeleton, thorax and abdomen
Safe use of contrast agents.
Range of positions for standard imaging procedures:
Practical imaging of phantoms
Digital radiography (DR)
Handling of the image receptor
Exposure factors
Field of view and positioning.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 240 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 30 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 20 | Practical sessions |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 8 | Seminars/Image evaluation |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 2 | Tutorial support (1 per term) |
| Guided independent study | 240 | Reading, private study and revision |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formative exam | 60 minutes | 1-8 | Marks returned, discussed in tutorials |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30 | 1500 words | 1-3, 5-9 | Written |
| Exam 1 | 35 | 120 minutes | 1-8 | Marks returned, discussed in tutorials |
| Exam 2 | 35 | 120 minutes | 1-8 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework 30% | Coursework | 1-3, 5-9 | August/September assessment period |
| Exam 1 (35%) | Exam 1 (120 min) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
| Exam 2 (35%) | Exam 2 (120 min) | 1-8 | August/September assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Please also refer to the TQA section on general Referral/Deferral guidelines: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
- Bontrager K.L. (2017), Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy (9th edition), Mosby, ISBN 0323481876
- Carlton R.R. and Adler A.M. (2013), Radiographic Imaging Concepts and Principles (5th edition), Delmar, ISBN 1473720524
- Graham D.T., Cloke P. and Vosper M. (2012), Principles and Applications of Radiological Physics (6th edition), Churchill Livingstone, ISBN 9780702052156
- Whitley AS, Jefferson G, Holmes K, Hoadley G, Sloane C, Anderson C. (2015) Clark's Positioning in Radiography (13th edition). CRC Press, London. ISBN 9781444122350
- Bushong S. (2017), Radiologic Science for Technologists (10th edition), Elsevier, ISBN 9780323353779
- Lambourne R. and Tinker M. (2000), Basic Mathematics for the Physical Sciences, Wiley, ISBN 0-471-85207-4
- Martensen, K. (2019), Radiographic Image Analysis (5th edition), Elsevier, ISBN 9780323522816
- Sloane C., Whitley A.S., Anderson C. and Holmes K. (2017), Clark's Pocket Handbook for Radiographers (2nd edition), CRC Press, ISBN 9781498726993
- UK Statutory Instruments (2017), Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017, The Stationary Office, Available from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1075/contents/made
- UK Statutory Instruments (2017), The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, The Stationery Office, Available from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1322/made
- UK Statutory Instruments (2018), The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, The Stationary Office, Available from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/121/contents/made
- The Health & Safety Executive (2018), Work with Ionising Radiation. Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, HSE Books, ISBN 9780717666621
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | N/A |
| Module co-requisites | N/A |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 12/02/2019 |
| Last revision date | 11/10/2021 |
