Radiation Therapy

The module is designed to equip students with knowledge of the structure and function of the human body and an understanding of the interrelationship among different body systems. The topics include structure and function of cell, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, blood and immune system. Gross anatomy of the limbs, pelvis and chest including general embryology and development of limbs will be covered in this module with emphasis on musculoskeletal structure and function.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. In this module students will attain an understanding of key psychological concepts. Students will appreciate how psychological theories and research relate to health, illness, and healthcare. Sociology is the study of society, relationships, and social behaviour. Students will consider key sociological concepts and research to broaden their understanding of health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to the individual, family, and society.

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s framework of a health system includes resource generation, stewardship, funding and provisioning. The goal of a health system is to improve health, respond to expectations and focus on fairness in financial contribution. In this module, the Singapore health system is described and analysed within the WHO’s framework. Students will learn to appreciate how policies are developed, health needs are identified and met, intersectoral collaborations needed and established, and services organized and evaluated. Through interprofessional studies, they will learn about the needs of patients and the roles of different professions in the health systems addressing those needs.

Foundation concepts and competencies in assessment and evaluation of the patient for service delivery. Psychological and physical needs of the patient and family and factors affecting treatment outcome. Infection control procedures, routine and emergency care procedures. Role in patient education. Human factors, quality assurance.

Communication in patient care. Health-illness continuum, developing professional attitudes, communication (including interviewing, observation and recording), age- and generation-specific communication, psychological considerations. Patient-family interactions. Patient identification, aspects of treatment procedures, holistic approaches to family members and friends.

Patient rights and responsibilities (including confidentiality). Patient transfer. Body mechanics, movement techniques, fall prevention, patient positions, patient safety and immobilization methods, incident reports. Assessment of physical needs. Physical needs of the patient, assessing patient status, physical signs, vital signs, weight, laboratory values, patient chart. Patient examination. Initial assessment, records, general physical examination, selected examinations and procedures, associated equipment and instruments. Care of patients with tubes, lines, catheters and other devices. Purpose, types and special precautions, procedures and special precautions. Patient education. Needs assessment, educational methods, implementation and evaluation, treatment procedures, medical imaging procedures, documentation.

Infection control. Cycle of infection, prevention of transmission, medical and surgical asepsis, practical asepsis, isolation techniques and communicable diseases, procedures for isolation patient, precautions for the compromised patient (reverse isolation). Environmental and workplace safety.

Medications and administration. Role of the radiographer and radiation therapist, medication information, medication administration.

Medical emergencies. Emergency equipment, latex reactions, shock, signs and symptoms and medical intervention for selected emergencies. Basic cardiac life support.

Foundation concepts and competencies in assessment and evaluation of the patient for service delivery. Psychological and physical needs of the patient and family and factors affecting treatment outcome. Infection control procedures, routine and emergency care procedures. Role in patient education. Human factors, quality assurance.

Communication in patient care. Health-illness continuum, developing professional attitudes, communication (including interviewing, observation and recording), age- and generation-specific communication, psychological considerations. Patient-family interactions. Patient identification, aspects of treatment procedures, holistic approaches to family members and friends.

Patient rights and responsibilities (including confidentiality). Patient transfer. Body mechanics, movement techniques, fall prevention, patient positions, patient safety and immobilization methods, incident reports. Assessment of physical needs. Physical needs of the patient, assessing patient status, physical signs, vital signs, weight, laboratory values, patient chart. Patient examination. Initial assessment, records, general physical examination, selected examinations and procedures, associated equipment and instruments. Care of patients with tubes, lines, catheters and other devices. Purpose, types and special precautions, procedures and special precautions. Patient education. Needs assessment, educational methods, implementation and evaluation, treatment procedures, medical imaging procedures, documentation.

Infection control. Cycle of infection, prevention of transmission, medical and surgical asepsis, practical asepsis, isolation techniques and communicable diseases, procedures for isolation patient, precautions for the compromised patient (reverse isolation). Environmental and workplace safety.

Medications and administration. Role of the radiographer and radiation therapist, medication information, medication administration.

Medical emergencies. Emergency equipment, latex reactions, shock, signs and symptoms and medical intervention for selected emergencies. Basic cardiac life support.

Foundation concepts and competencies in assessment and evaluation of the patient for service delivery. Psychological and physical needs of the patient and family and factors affecting treatment outcome. Infection control procedures, routine and emergency care procedures. Role in patient education. Human factors, quality assurance.

Communication in patient care. Health-illness continuum, developing professional attitudes, communication (including interviewing, observation and recording), age- and generation-specific communication, psychological considerations. Patient-family interactions. Patient identification, aspects of treatment procedures, holistic approaches to family members and friends.

Patient rights and responsibilities (including confidentiality). Patient transfer. Body mechanics, movement techniques, fall prevention, patient positions, patient safety and immobilization methods, incident reports. Assessment of physical needs. Physical needs of the patient, assessing patient status, physical signs, vital signs, weight, laboratory values, patient chart. Patient examination. Initial assessment, records, general physical examination, selected examinations and procedures, associated equipment and instruments. Care of patients with tubes, lines, catheters and other devices. Purpose, types and special precautions, procedures and special precautions. Patient education. Needs assessment, educational methods, implementation and evaluation, treatment procedures, medical imaging procedures, documentation.

Infection control. Cycle of infection, prevention of transmission, medical and surgical asepsis, practical asepsis, isolation techniques and communicable diseases, procedures for isolation patient, precautions for the compromised patient (reverse isolation). Environmental and workplace safety.

Medications and administration. Role of the radiographer and radiation therapist, medication information, medication administration.

Medical emergencies. Emergency equipment, latex reactions, shock, signs and symptoms and medical intervention for selected emergencies. Basic cardiac life support.

This module extends the knowledge gained in Anatomy and Physiology 1, and includes structures and functions of the endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system and the reproductive system. Gross anatomy of the spine (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) and neurocranium (skull) will be covered in this module with emphasis on the musculoskeletal structures and functions of the spinal vertebrae.

This module provides the foundation physics knowledge relevant to medical radiation and imaging. Topics include the structure of matter, properties of radiation, radioactivity and decay, and interactions of ionizing radiation with matter. This module also segues into x-ray instrumentation by introducing x-ray production.

This module focuses on the science and equipment involved in the production of optimal radiographic images. It follows the x-ray beam from creation to detection and image formation. It also discusses factors affecting image quality, optimal imaging standards, problem-solving techniques for image evaluation, and quality assurance. These principles are then extended to discuss principles of operation of equipment for fluoroscopy, mobile radiography and angiography.

The module will introduce the quantitative and qualitative methodologies in conducting research in the healthcare industry. The module will cover the common types of research design. By relating to scientific literature, different topics such as sampling, generalizability, blinding, effect size, randomization will be introduce weekly. Alongside introducing the basic methodology, this module focuses on getting students search for evidence in the literature from the different database. It aims to develop skills in searching for evidence, understanding research articles and ability to critically appraise published literature. Part the module will also focus on preparing students on academic writing, alongside working on the critical appraisal of literature.

Professional roles and responsibilities to patients, community, profession and self (including radiation, legal and ethical practice, diversity). Scope of practice, practice standards, code of ethics. Incidence, etiology and epidemiology. Carcinogenesis. Theories and prevention. Detection and diagnosis. Medical history, physical examination, biopsy, microscopy, laboratory, diagnostic imaging studies. Early detection, screening programs. Grading and staging. Definitions, purpose, methods, effect on treatment. Prognostic factors. Tumour-related, host-related. Treatment intent (radical, adjuvant, palliative). Treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal, radionuclide therapies, gene manipulation, complementary therapies). Principles and modalities of radiation therapy treatment (external beam radiation, brachytherapy, hyperthermia). Research.

Key terms. Radiation therapy equipment, equipment components and terms, dose delivery terms, positioning terms.

Factors that influence and govern clinical planning of patient treatment. Isodose descriptions, patient contouring, radiobiologic considerations, dosimetric calculations, compensation and clinical application of treatment beams. Nomenclature and terminology, treatment sheet documentation, technical skills and land-marking, palliative treatment techniques. Staging and planning. Treatment planning principles, treatment planning system algorithms, planning techniques. Imaging for diagnosis, digital imaging and PACS.

General care of the cancer patient. Cancer patients and grief.

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Expand upon areas of radiation physics specific to radiation therapy. Nuclear transformations and interactions of ionizing radiation. Treatment units used in external radiation therapy. Measurement and quality of ionizing radiation produced. Absorbed dose measurement, dose distribution and scatter analysis.

Nuclear transformations. Mean life, radioactive series, radioactive equilibrium, modes of decay, decay equations and problems, nuclear reactions, activation of nuclides, nuclear reactors, and charged particle accelerators.

Interactions of ionizing radiation. Photon beam attenuation, interaction of charged particles, interaction of neutrons, and overview of comparative beam characteristics.

Radiation therapy treatment units. Contact, superficial, orthovoltage or deep therapy, megavoltage therapy, linear accelerator, cyclotron, synchrotron, particle beams, isotope beams.

Measurement of ionizing radiation. Unit of exposure, collection of charge instruments, electrometers, special chambers, environmental conditions, measurement of exposure.

Quality of ionizing radiation. Energy fluence, clinically practical expression of beam quality, filters, measurement of beam quality parameters, measurement of megavoltage beam energy, measurement of energy spectrum.

Measurement of absorbed dose. Radiation absorbed dose, relationship between KERMA, exposure and absorbed dose, calculation of absorbed dose from exposure, Bragg-Gray cavity theory, calibration of megavoltage beams, other methods of measurement of absorbed dose, Monte Carlo methods.

Dose distribution and scatter analysis. Phantoms, depth dose distribution, percentage depth dose, tissue-air ratio, backscatter factor, scatter-air ratio (SAR).

This module aims to provide an introduction to the key concepts of radiobiology applied to diagnostic medical imaging and radiation therapy.  The interactions of radiation with molecules, cells, tissues and the body, and resultant biophysical events will be presented. Somatic, genetic and embryonic radiation effects, Law of Bergonié and Tribondeau, cell survival and recovery, radiation dose response curves, acute and late effects of radiation, will be discussed and examined.
This module is also designed to present basic principles of radiation protection and safety for medical radiation professionals. Radiation health and safety requirements of regulatory agencies, accreditation agencies and health care organizations are incorporated.

Series of modules covering the science and clinical management of malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Pathophysiology. Etiology, histopathology, pathogenesis, mechanism and pattern of spread, invasion and metastasis. Mechanism of action of cancer drugs, development of resistance. Interaction of cancer treatments with normal and malignant tissues.

Clinical management. Epidemiology, presenting symptoms. Diagnosis, medical history, clinical assessment, biopsy, laboratory tests, imaging methods. Staging, grading. Treatment and prognostic factors, adjuvant therapy. Acute and late side effects of cancer treatment. Quality of life. Survival and follow up.

Appearance of diseased anatomical structures on a variety of imaging formats. Topographic and sectional anatomy (CT, MRI and other imaging modalities). Image evaluation, viewing and critique.

Develop broad understanding of the pathological basis of human disease, and understanding of patho-genetic mechanisms underlying neoplasia. Concepts and classification of disease. Responses to injury. Healing and repair. Inflammation. Immune responses. Abnormal growth. Neoplasia. Inflammation, hormones and growth factors related to oncology. Regulation of cell cycle. Cancer pathology. Viral carcinogenesis. Carcinogenesis.

Series of modules covering the practice of radiation therapy for malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Planning (including deformation registration, image fusion, 2D, 3D, IMRT, VMAT planning, ICRU report interpretation, treatment plan analysis and evaluation, 4D planning, adaptive RT). Radiation positioning and immobilisation (including positioning, immobilisation, treatment delivery accessories).

Localisation and verification (including simulation, MRI/CT/PET localisation, pre-treatment verification protocol).

Patient care and management (including assessment of side effects, assessment of pain or other physical needs; patient examination, assessment of nutritional status, patient education, care of patient undergoing RT).

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This module introduces students to the broad categories of diseases and injuries from a systems approach. The students learn the contemporary knowledge and perspectives on the pathological and abnormal physiological processes that lead to these diseases and injuries, current medical interventions, including surgery and drugs, and associated complications either arising from the disease processes or medical interventions. Students learn the effects of drugs on the biological systems (for instance, interactions between chemicals and biological receptors) and the effects of biological systems on drugs (that is, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of chemicals from biological systems). In addition, students learn to recognize the desired and undesired effects of medication, delivery options, adverse drug reactions that health professionals may observe. The specific roles of these health professionals in communicating adverse reactions and requesting modification in medication delivery to optimize performance and minimize pain will also be discussed.

More advance research methodologies will be introduced in the module. There will be introduction to a range of statistical methods for health scientists including regression and analysis of variance. The students will be introduced to more complex forms of study designs (e.g. mixed methods design), will be taught how to relate skills of critical appraisal to statistical analysis.

Series of modules covering the practice of radiation therapy for malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Planning (including deformation registration, image fusion, 2D, 3D, IMRT, VMAT planning, ICRU report interpretation, treatment plan analysis and evaluation, 4D planning, adaptive RT). Radiation positioning and immobilisation (including positioning, immobilisation, treatment delivery accessories).

Localisation and verification (including simulation, MRI/CT/PET localisation, pre-treatment verification protocol).

Patient care and management (including assessment of side effects, assessment of pain or other physical needs; patient examination, assessment of nutritional status, patient education, care of patient undergoing RT).

Series of modules covering the science and clinical management of malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Pathophysiology. Etiology, histopathology, pathogenesis, mechanism and pattern of spread, invasion and metastasis. Mechanism of action of cancer drugs, development of resistance. Interaction of cancer treatments with normal and malignant tissues.

Clinical management. Epidemiology, presenting symptoms. Diagnosis, medical history, clinical assessment, biopsy, laboratory tests, imaging methods. Staging, grading. Treatment and prognostic factors, adjuvant therapy. Acute and late side effects of cancer treatment. Quality of life. Survival and follow up.

Appearance of diseased anatomical structures on a variety of imaging formats. Topographic and sectional anatomy (CT, MRI and other imaging modalities). Image evaluation, viewing and critique.

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This module integrates and builds upon the prior modules on topic areas covered such as, anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; clinical reasoning; patient care; radiation safety and protection and equipment instrumentation (advanced modalities). These topics will be revisited considering various body regions in cross sectional imaging.

Students are expected to be familiar with the procedures performed in both CT and MRI, with specific emphasis on patient preparation; pre-/during/post-procedure care (which includes screening for contraindications, instructions, post-procedural advice); contrast media administration and management of anaphylaxis and patient safety measures. Students should be trained in resuscitation procedures and BCLS to assist in managing clinical emergencies which may arise during the procedure.

Review of normal surface and gross anatomical relationships and organisation. Location and identification of gross anatomical structures in transverse, sagittal and coronal planes. Sectional anatomy of normal anatomical structures and normal variants of the head, brain and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, spine, musculoskeletal on plain and contrast radiographic, CT and MR images.

Series of modules covering the practice of radiation therapy for malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Planning (including deformation registration, image fusion, 2D, 3D, IMRT, VMAT planning, ICRU report interpretation, treatment plan analysis and evaluation, 4D planning, adaptive RT).

Radiation positioning and immobilisation (including positioning, immobilisation, treatment delivery accessories).

Localisation and verification (including simulation, MRI/CT/PET localisation, pre-treatment verification protocol).

Patient care and management (including assessment of side effects, assessment of pain or other physical needs; patient examination, assessment of nutritional status, patient education, care of patient undergoing RT).

Series of modules covering the science and clinical management of malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Pathophysiology. Etiology, histopathology, pathogenesis, mechanism and pattern of spread, invasion and metastasis. Mechanism of action of cancer drugs, development of resistance. Interaction of cancer treatments with normal and malignant tissues.

Clinical management. Epidemiology, presenting symptoms. Diagnosis, medical history, clinical assessment, biopsy, laboratory tests, imaging methods. Staging, grading. Treatment and prognostic factors, adjuvant therapy. Acute and late side effects of cancer treatment. Quality of life. Survival and follow up.

Appearance of diseased anatomical structures on a variety of imaging formats. Topographic and sectional anatomy (CT, MRI and other imaging modalities). Image evaluation, viewing and critique.

This module prepares students for their honours thesis. Students enrolled in this module will develop a research proposal and submit the proposal for examination at the end of the study period. The research proposal will include the research questions or hypotheses, a critical review of the literature, proposed methodology taking into account ethical considerations, and a project plan. Students will also be equipped with basic research knowledge and skills necessary for pursuing research at honours level.

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The aim of the module is to facilitate the students to actively participate in a research process, and in so doing understand the theoretical and practical aspects of research. The module aims to develop a solid appreciation of the value of research in clinical practice. It aims to encourage ongoing critical evaluation in clinical practice.

This module builds upon and extends the statistical knowledge that students have acquired through the Research – Critical Appraisal of Literature and Research – Methods and Statistics modules. It aims to support students who require further statistical knowledge and practical computational skills to successfully carry out their honours theses. The module reinforces their command of essential statistical parameters like the p value, and introduces more advanced statistical models like ANOVA, multiple linear and logistic regression, time to event models. The focus is on appropriate use of these models and the interpretation of the model results, whilst developing an appreciation of the technical details of such models. The module will be delivered with a strong applied focus, enabling students to apply the knowledge and skills directly to their honours theses.
 

Through this module, students will develop understanding related to the challenges and opportunities presented by changes in science, technology, society and organisations. Popular narratives related to the disciplines of science and technology often frame these disciplines as both providing and based upon absolute truth, and formed through singular evolutions. Such narratives present current advancements in science and technology as unproblematic and inevitable processes of evolution. These narratives often fail to take into account alternative narratives and social, political and cultural reasons for the changes, and as such present the reader a view that is at best static and at worst prejudiced. In recent years, scholars have repeatedly demonstrated that science and technology are as fluid and malleable as the people who produce them. Through a focus on themes of “Social Change”, “Organizational Change” and “Individual Change”, the students will develop understanding of how change occurs, why it occurs, and what we can do to anticipate, encourage and manage change. Students will think about and discuss a range of benefits that managing and understanding change may contribute to their lives, the organizations in which they work and society as a whole. Organisational change theories, and concepts regarding resistance to change will be introduced and discussed. Students will develop knowledge of individual change. Through exploring individuals’ strengths and concepts of occupational identity, students will identify individual coping mechanisms that may be employed when dealing with change. Students will discuss the potential ways of becoming a change agent for an organization and society. The students will learn about being a recipient of change as well as an agent / future leader for change.

Series of modules covering the practice of radiation therapy for malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Planning (including deformation registration, image fusion, 2D, 3D, IMRT, VMAT planning, ICRU report interpretation, treatment plan analysis and evaluation, 4D planning, adaptive RT). Radiation positioning and immobilisation (including positioning, immobilisation, treatment delivery accessories).

Localisation and verification (including simulation, MRI/CT/PET localisation, pre-treatment verification protocol).

Patient care and management (including assessment of side effects, assessment of pain or other physical needs; patient examination, assessment of nutritional status, patient education, care of patient undergoing RT).

Series of modules covering the science and clinical management of malignancies of the breast, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, head and neck, hematopoietic, integumentary, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, reproductive, respiratory and urinary systems.

Pathophysiology. Etiology, histopathology, pathogenesis, mechanism and pattern of spread, invasion and metastasis. Mechanism of action of cancer drugs, development of resistance. Interaction of cancer treatments with normal and malignant tissues.

Clinical management. Epidemiology, presenting symptoms. Diagnosis, medical history, clinical assessment, biopsy, laboratory tests, imaging methods. Staging, grading. Treatment and prognostic factors, adjuvant therapy. Acute and late side effects of cancer treatment. Quality of life. Survival and follow up.

Appearance of diseased anatomical structures on a variety of imaging formats. Topographic and sectional anatomy (CT, MRI and other imaging modalities). Image evaluation, viewing and critique.

The aim of the module is to facilitate the students to actively participate in a research process, and in so doing understand the theoretical and practical aspects of research. The module aims to develop a solid appreciation of the value of research in clinical practice. It aims to encourage ongoing critical evaluation in clinical practice.

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This module explores themes on professionalism, healthcare ethics, legal aspects of healthcare and global health. Students learn about professional and interprofessional issues that they are likely to encounter in their practice. Ethical issues are discussed from different moral perspectives. Global health themes such as diversity, advocacy, primary health care, Sustainable Development Goals, health diplomacy and comparative health systems are included. A focus of this module is on interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

The aim of the module is to facilitate the students to actively participate in a research process, and in so doing understand the theoretical and practical aspects of research. The module aims to develop a solid appreciation of the value of research in clinical practice. It aims to encourage ongoing critical evaluation in clinical practice.

Brachytherapy, proton therapy, total body irradiation, stereotactic body radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, emerging treatments.