PCB675 Radiation Safety and Biology


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:PCB675
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:PCB272
Coordinator:Jamie Trapp | j.trapp@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit covers radiation protection and the biological effects of radiation on the human body. It is aimed towards those who are likely to be working with ionizing radiation in the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Apply the relevant legislation, codes and standards, and recommendations for radiation protection in medicine.
  2. Explain the effects of exposure to ionising radiation at the cellular, whole animal and population levels.
    Relates to: MRPPC2020: Domain 5, 5.1a, 5.1b, 5.1c
  3. Perform radiation safety calculations in given clinical situations to ensure the safety of staff and the public.
    Relates to: MRPPC2020: Domain 5, 5.4a, 5.4c, 5.4e
  4. Identify radiation risks in clinical situations and recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
    Relates to: MRPPC2020: Domain 5, 5.1e, 5.1f, 5.2e
  5. Communicate recommendations professionally in writing to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
    Relates to: MRPPC2020: Domain 5, 5.1a, 5.1b

Content

This unit will provide the student with fundamental knowledge of hazards of ionizing radiation in a medical environment, to the patient, the staff and the general public. Units of radiation exposure and dose will be covered, including absorbed dose, equivalent dose and effective dose, along with committed dose for lifetime exposure to radiation. Legislative requirements and codes of practice will be applied and scenarios relating to incidents and action levels will be discussed. Strategies for reduction of radiation dose will be examined in detail, including distance, shielding and time. Personal protective equipment and personnel monitoring will also be covered.

The biological effects of radiation on the human body will be covered in detail. This includes the effects of radiation effects on the basis of molecular, cellular, organ, whole body and population. Stochastic and deterministic effects will be examined as well as genetic, embryonic, epidemiological, and life shortening. Case studies from past accidents and incidents will be used to illustrate the content of the unit.

All content covered will be synthesized to put radiation hazards in perspective, to the patient, the worker, and the general public.

Learning Approaches

You can expect to spend on average between 10 - 15 hours per week involved in preparing for class, attending scheduled classes, completing self-check quizzes and independent study. Weekly lectures will be augmented by a practical session in which students will experience simulated radiation measurements and analysis.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative feedback on your learning will be available through automated feedback on non-graded quizzes in the unit site.

Feedback will be provided on all assessment tasks including examinations. General feedback to the class will be provided on examinations. Individual feedback on examinations will be available through organising a face-to-face meeting with the unit coordinator. Written feedback will be provided on the recommendation report. Feedback and results will be available to you prior to the submission of your next assessment task.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment will comprise weekly online problem solving tasks relating to the online lectures, and a final examination.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

This written examination will assess your knowledge of the key concepts explored in the first five weeks of the unit.  

 

Weight: 30
Length: 1 hour
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Mid Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Recommendations Report

You will be provided with an authentic scenario to analyse to identify radiation risks and to recommend risk mitigation strategies in the form of a written report. 

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

Weight: 40
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 10
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3, 4, 5

Assessment: Final Exam

This final exam will assess your learning from Weeks 6 - 13

Weight: 30
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): During central examination period
Central exam duration: 1:10 - Including 10 minute perusal
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

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

The recommended text should be available through the QUT Library.

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Bushberg, J.T., Seibert, A., Leidholdt, E.M, Boone, J.M., Abbey, C.K. (2021) The essential physics of medical imaging 4th Edition

Risk Assessment Statement

Practical sessions will involve sources of ionising radiation. You will be advised of appropriate procedures at the commencement of each session and supervised by experienced staff during these sessions.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

MRPBA Professional Capabilities 2020

Domain 5: Radiation safety and risk manager


  1. Relates to: ULO2, ULO5

  2. Relates to: ULO2, ULO5

  3. Relates to: ULO2

  4. Relates to: ULO4

  5. Relates to: ULO4

  6. Relates to: ULO4

  7. Relates to: ULO3

  8. Relates to: ULO3

  9. Relates to: ULO3

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

CS49 Bachelor of Radiation Therapy

  1. Principles and applications of radiation therapy
    Relates to: Examination (Theory), Recommendations Report, Final Exam
  2. Physical Sciences
    Relates to: Examination (Theory), Recommendations Report, Final Exam
  3. Research skills and methods
    Relates to: Recommendations Report, Final Exam
  4. QA procedures and risk management
    Relates to: Examination (Theory), Recommendations Report, Final Exam
  5. Radiation safety and quality
    Relates to: Examination (Theory), Recommendations Report, Final Exam

CS50 Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (Honours)

  1. Physical Sciences
    Relates to: Examination (Theory), Recommendations Report, Final Exam