CSH057 Image Interpretation

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit builds on both theoretical knowledge and technical skills achieved in first and second year radiography, anatomy and pathology units and concentrates on application of this knowledge to practice. Image interpretation is an essential component of general radiographic skills, with a basic knowledge of the principles of imaging techniques, their clinical applications, responding to the acute and deteriorating patient and an appreciation of the appearances of major disease processes on diagnostic images a necessary requirement for radiographers. You will gain practical skills in image interpretation and this unit provides you with the underpinning theory and practice. At this level you are expected to engage with the literature base in order to support your work and you will have specific support for this via the practical sessions.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Identify major anatomical structures and describe common radiographic appearances on a range of images.
2. Demonstrate the essential criteria for radiographic assessment of quality for selected radiographic examinations.
3. Critically evaluate and analyse images, both individually and in collaboration with others, regarding technical quality and anatomical detail and develop strategies for improvement when necessary.
4. Apply facts, concepts and terms related to the major diseases of each of the organ systems and recognise their appearances on images.
5. Describe the role and responsibilities of the radiographer in the evaluation and assessment of general radiographic imaging as appropriate for diagnosis, including recognising and responding to the acute deterioration of a patient.

Content

Learning Approaches

A range of learning and teaching strategies will be employed in this unit with delivery encompassing formal lectures, self-directed and collaborative learning. This unit requires you to engage with the Canvas learning environment regularly. Specific learning materials including suggested reading, links to relevant internet sites and other electronic resources will be located on Canvas. The unit is delivered in an intensive format due to the extended clinical placement requirements during the semester.

The unit presentation includes formal lectures. Each lecture will be supported by lecture notes and practical exercises. The lectures will expand your to the theoretical background knowledge. Problem-based practical exercises will consolidate and extend the practical and interpretive skills involved in image interpretation and challenge you to apply your knowledge and understanding to theoretical practical situations.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided in the following ways:

• Feedback on your performance in on-line activities;
• Criteria sheet grading;
• Formative feedback from your peers during collaborative sessions - you will be working with peers to undertake activities in image review and will receive feedback from these peers and your tutorial supervisors.

Assessment

Overview

For the purposes of professional accreditation and demonstration of capabilities/competencies, students must achieve a satisfactory level of performance in assessment item 2 of the unit to gain a passing grade.
All assessment contributes to your grade. 
Assessment submission is per Faculty of Health Policy B18: Late Submission of Assessments and Requests for extensions.

Threshold assessment conditions
In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply for assessment items 2 (prac exam). If you do not achieve the pass level for an assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

As an emerging Medical Radiation Practitioner, you are required to demonstrate professional and practical skills in radiographic assessment and image evaluation of common radiographic appearances, and critically evaluate these resultant images. In a group of 3 to 4 peers, you are required to demonstrate satisfactory clinical image evaluation(s) for routine radiographic examinations of the Upper Limb, Lower Limb and Thorax by means of image critique and interpretation via PACS &/or supplied radiographic images.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Examination (practical)

This assessment item will require you to complete a practical image viewing examination involving critical evaluation and analysis of images regarding technical quality, anatomical detail, image and request form interpretation of the Appendicular & Axial Skeleton, Thorax and Abdomen, assessing all unit content from both lecture and tutorial activities.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold Assessment: Threshold conditions apply for this assessment

In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply.

If you do not achieve the pass level for an assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.

Assessment: Examination (invigilated)

Theory examination consisting of a range of short answer and long answer written questions, assessing all unit content from lecture and tutorial activities.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Other

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2021). National safety and quality health service standards. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.