Training activity information
Details
Advise on kV treatments for patients covering a range of anatomical sites including suitable treatment delivery parameters and perform patient dose calculations
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Role of physics support in clinical situations
- Professionalism and behaviour with patients
- Patient suitability for treatment
- Effective communication with the multidisciplinary team
- Physics of kV interactions
- Use of margins in kV treatments
- Choice of energy and plan design
- Principles of manual dose calculations
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What are the typical clinical indications for kV treatments?
- What factors influence the choice of treatment delivery parameters (e.g., energy, applicator size, SSD) for different anatomical sites?
- How are patient dose calculations performed for kV treatments?
- What information will you need about the patient and the prescribed treatment to provide appropriate advice and perform calculations?
- What resources or protocols can you consult?
- What potential challenges might arise when advising on kV treatments for different sites?
In action
- When considering different anatomical sites, are you recalling the typical kV beam characteristics and their suitability for superficial treatments?
- How are you deciding on appropriate energies and applicator sizes?
- As you perform the dose calculations, are you carefully noting the treatment parameters and distances?
- Are you double-checking your calculations using different methods if possible?
- When advising on treatment parameters, are you clearly explaining the rationale to other health professionals?
- Are you considering any limitations of kV treatments for specific sites?
On action
- What anatomical sites were you advising on for kV treatments? What factors did you consider when determining suitable treatment delivery parameters (e.g., energy, applicator size, treatment distance)? What methods did you use for patient dose calculations?
- What are the typical clinical indications for kV treatments at different anatomical sites? How do the physical characteristics of kV beams (e.g., penetration, skin dose) influence their suitability for superficial treatments? How do different treatment parameters affect the dose delivered to the patient? How did you communicate your advice and the rationale behind your recommendations to other health professionals?
- How will you consolidate your knowledge of kV beam characteristics and their clinical applications? What further practice will you undertake in performing kV dose calculations for different treatment scenarios? How will you ensure you provide clear and well-reasoned advice on kV treatments in the future?
Beyond action
- Thinking back to when you advised on kV treatments, have you considered how your understanding of superficial treatments and their application has evolved?
- How has this experience since influenced your ability to assess the suitability of kV treatments for different clinical scenarios and advise other healthcare professionals?
- How has your knowledge of kV treatments and dose calculations contributed to your ability to provide expert advice on superficial radiotherapy in your current role?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 6 |
Outcome
Describe the use of specialist techniques in radiotherapy. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Appraise the suitability of plans for superficial treatments and advise other health care professionals on their application. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Practice effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide safe, patient centred radiotherapy treatments. |