MEDI12007 - Quality Processes for Dose and Image Optimisation

General Information

Unit Synopsis

You will apply knowledge of equipment operation and use as well as radiographic image acquisition techniques to the optimisation of radiographic images and patient dose. You will apply the concepts of quality control testing and quality assurance to monitor equipment performance, detect performance issues, document findings and determine corrective action. You will consider imaging quality processes in the larger context of facility quality management and compliance with external standards. You will investigate the impact of technical factor selection on patient dose and image quality. Through these you will learn to make informed selections and modifications of technical parameters for radiographic procedures and to justify your decision-making.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites:

MEDI12001 Radiation Science

MEDI12002 Science and Instrumentation 1

MEDI12005 Science & Instrumentation 2

Co-requisite:

MEDI12004 Medical Imaging Clinical Placement 1

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

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Residential School Compulsory Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2024

Term 3 - 2024 Profile
Mixed Mode

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. On-campus Activity 0%
2. In-class Test(s) 20%
3. Practical and Written Assessment 30%
4. Online Test 50%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 3 - 2023 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 35.71% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 23.33% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Informal student feedback and instructor observations.
Feedback
Students who had not covered the assigned theory content prior to attending the res school found it difficult to apply concepts to the lab activities at the res school then also struggled on the test to answer questions on the final online test that related to the lab activities.
Recommendation
Modify the assessment strategy to add a new in-class test at the start of the res school and reduce the weight of the final test.
Action Taken
A small-stakes in-class test was added. The weights for the final test and assignment were also adjusted.
Source: Unit coordinator reflection
Feedback
The structure of the newly designed written assignment and the schedule of res school activities resulted in very time-intensive lab school preparation and disttribution of assignment images and data to students after the res school. This impacted timely development of other new learning resources during the term.
Recommendation
Modify the res school schedule of activities to support more efficient data and image collection and distribution for the assignment.
Action Taken
Changes were made to some res school activities to support more efficient collection of data and images. Changes were also made to the assignment and distribution to each student of data for analysis.
Source: Informal student feedback
Feedback
The res school schedule included rotation of four small groups through multiple concurrent hands-on lab activities and classroom sessions. For some parts of the schedule, concurrently run activities took quite different quantities of time to complete. This was frustrating for some students.
Recommendation
Re-package the sets of lab activities for each session and modify the scope of the classroom sessions to have more consistent time requirements.
Action Taken
Lab activities were 'bundled' differently to achieve more consistent time requirements for concurrent activities.
Source: Marking team feedback
Feedback
The written assignment scoring was done using an online rubric with multiple criteria for each question to be answered. The online rubric tool design was not a good fit for the assignment design, although the assessment criteria were a good fit. Marking of assignments was inefficient.
Recommendation
Investigate the use of an online marking guide for a more efficient marking process.
Action Taken
An online marking guide for the written assessment was implemented.
Source: Informal student feedback, teaching team observations
Feedback
Students entered their lab data into the provided Excel-based workbook which automatically performed required calculations. Although efficient for lab test completion, it resulted in many students not understanding the data analysis processes.
Recommendation
Modify the lab workbook to remove the automatic calculations.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Informal student feedback, teaching team observations
Feedback
The three days of residential school was tightly packed with lab and classroom activities. Students had no independent study time to analyse their lab data or create summary notes to support retention of learning.
Recommendation
Modify the residential school schedule to incorporate time for data analysis and debriefing.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Informal student feedback, teaching team observations
Feedback
Many students had not completed the requisite learning activities in the first two weeks to prepare them for both the lab activities and the in-class test of the res school in the third week.
Recommendation
Send multiple targeted announcements and emails to students at the start of the unit to specify what needs to be completed prior to the res school and why.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

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

  1. Assess the performance of radiographic, fluoroscopic and ancillary equipment relative to quality standards.
  2. Troubleshoot imaging faults and equipment problems
  3. Apply metrics of image quality to describe and evaluate visibility and accuracy of structures demonstrated on radiographic images
  4. Relate radiographic equipment performance and the selection of image acquisition and processing parameters to patient dose and image quality
  5. Critically appraise evidence to inform decision-making in technical parameter selection to address dose and image optimisation
  6. Discuss the interconnections of imaging quality control, dose management, departmental quality management and compliance with external quality and safety standards for clinical imaging facilities.

The unit links to the following Professional Capabilities for Medical Radiation Practitioners as detailed by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (effective March 2020):

Domain 1A Diagnostic radiographer:

  • 1. Perform projection radiography examinations in a range of settings.
    • a. Operate projection radiography systems safely and effectively in a range of settings
    • c. Use standard radiographic projections and exposure factors for the patient's/client's body area being examined and, when appropriate, modify them to consider patient/client presentation, clincal indications and mechanisms of injury
    • f. Critically evaluate images against radiographic criteria including assessment of exposure index, field of view and anatomical rotation
    • g. Collaborate in the design and evaluation of projection radiography protocols.

Domain 2: Professional and ethical practitioner:

  • 3. Take responsibility and accountability for professional decisions.
    • c. Integrate organisational policies and guidelines with professional standards and apply to practice.

Domain 4: Evidence-informed practitioner:

  • 1. Resolve challenges through application of critical thinking and reflective practice
    • a. Identify the challenge or question and the information that is needed to respond
    • b. Find, critically appraise, interpret and apply best available research evidence to inform clinical reasoning and professional decision-making

Domain 5: Radiation safety and risk manager:

  • 1. Perform and provide safe radiation practice
    • a. Comply with relevant radiation safety legislation
  • 3. Implement quality assurance processes imaging or treating patients/clients
    • a. Check and confirm that all equipment is in good order and operating within acceptable parameters
    • b. Follow protocols to record details of all routine equipment checks
    • c. Identify and take appropriate action to correct unacceptable condition or operation of all equipment
    • d. Follow protocols to record and report non-conformance of all equipment.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - On-campus Activity • • • •
2 - In-class Test(s) •
3 - Practical and Written Assessment • • •
4 - Online Test • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking •
4 - Information Literacy • • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • •
8 - Ethical practice • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10