It is intended that the syllabus should be delivered through approximately 30 hours of formal physics teaching. In the UK, this would usually be scheduled over an eight week period from the beginning of October with the intention for candidates to sit the First FRCR Examination at the Winter sitting in early December. Further elements of physics, as included in the revised Final FRCR Examination syllabus, should be taught later in the first year of training.
AIMS
To provide knowledge of radiation physics sufficient to understand the interaction of radiation with matter and to have an awareness of the associated radiation hazards and risks.
To understand the principles of diagnostic x-ray and radionuclide equipment sufficient to be able to describe factors affecting image quality and patient dose, to recognise artefacts and to be able to use equipment correctly.
To describe the various UK legislation affecting the use of ionising radiations in the medical environment.
OBJECTIVES
The candidate should be able to
describe the structure of the atom, the types of radiation and the modes of radioactive decay
understand the concept of half life
give a basic description of the important electron and photon interactions with matter and state how they vary with energy and properties of the material
describe attenuation in terms of absorption, scatter, HVL, and understand the inverse square law
understand the basic physics of the production of x-rays
state the radiation quantities and units: activity, exposure, absorbed dose, equivalent dose, effective dose and the relationships between these quantities
give a description of the biological effects of radiation on tissue
understand and give examples of stochastic and deterministic effects of radiation
demonstrate an awareness of the populations used to evaluate radiation risk, risk values and understand how factors such as age affect these values
communicate the concept of radiation risk from medical exposures to patients.
understand the requirements for the protection of staff and members of the public arising from their use of radiation and the extent to which they are responsible for safety within the overall radiation protection framework
demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the regulations governing the medical exposure of an individual and of their own and other peoples responsibilities
understand their own responsibilities regarding the restriction of the environmental impact of their use of radiation
describe basic measures of image quality
understand the basic physics of image receptors
have an overview of the physics of CT scanners with particular reference to factors affecting image quality and dose
have an overview of nuclear medicine physics with particular reference to factors affecting image quality and dose
SYLLABUS
Fundamental Physics of Matter and Radiation
Basic physics
Fundamental properties of matter and radiation decay
Interactions of ionising radiation with matter
Radiation Hazards and Dosimetry
Biological effects of radiations
Risks of radiation
Principles of radiation protection
Justification
Optimisation
Limitation
Absorbed dose, equivalent dose, effective dose and their units
Practical Radiation Protection
General Radiation Protection
General radiation protection
Radiation protection of the patient including pregnancy, infants and children
Medical and biomedical research
Health screening
Radiation protection of staff and members of the public Use of radiation protection devices
Statutory Requirements and Non-Statutory Recommendations
Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
Responsibility for radiation safety
Local rules and procedures
Role of radiation protection adviser and radiation protection supervisor
Classified workers
Restriction of exposure (through design, systems of work and ppe)
Dose limits
Equipment used for medical exposures
Notification of incidents
Dose constraints for comforters and carers
Routine inspection and testing of equipment
Notification of incidents
Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000
Responsibilities of referrer, operator, practitioner, employer and medical physics expert
Patient identification and consent
Dose recording and diagnostic reference levels
Adequate training and local entitlement
Employers procedures
Quality assurance programmes, clinical evaluation of exposure and clinical audit
Notification of incidents
Research exposures, including ethics committees and dose constraints
Health screening
Other relevant legislation
Medicines (Administration of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1978
Radioactive Substances Act 1993
Diagnostic Radiology and Radionuclide Radiology
Diagnostic Radiology
Production of X-rays
General tubes
Mammography
Radiological image
Factors affecting radiation dose and image quality
Quality assurance and quality control
Conventional film processing
Fluoroscopy and Fluorography
Image intensification
Operator controlled variables
Measurement of image quality
Factors affecting radiation dose and image quality
Computed Tomography Scanning (Introduction)
Basic physics of CT
Factors affecting radiation dose and image quality
Patient Dosimetry
Methods
Diagnostic reference levels (including high dose techniques)
Magnitude and measurements
Radionuclide Imaging (Introduction)
Fundamentals of diagnostic use
Properties of radiopharmaceuticals
Factors affecting radiation dose and image quality
Radiation protection requirements for
Conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding
Arrangements for radioactive patients
Keeping of radioactive substances
Disposal of radioactive waste
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