Module information
Module details
- Title
- Introduction to Radiopharmacy
- Type
- Rotation
- Module code
- S-PS-R3
- Credits
- 10
- Phase
- 1
- Requirement
- Compulsory
Aim of this module
This rotation will introduce trainees to principles and practices of radiopharmacy services in clinical pharmaceutical sciences. Trainees will appreciate the range and application of radiopharmacy products in patient care, the roles and responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team working in radiopharmacy and the regulations which guide the process of preparing products.
Work-based content
Training activities
| # | Learning outcome | Training activity | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # 1 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Attend an interdepartmental meeting between physics and radiopharmacy, and reflect on the meeting |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 2 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Shadow a radiopharmacy technician and reflect on their role |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 3 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Observe radiochemical purity testing of radiopharmaceutical products and reflect on the process |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 4 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Follow a radiopharmaceutical from assessment of request through the radiopharmacy department to administration, scanning and reporting, and reflect on the journey |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 5 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Follow the pathway of a Technetium-99m generator from receipt to return and reflect on the journey |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 6 | Learning outcome 1,3,4,6 |
Training activities
Explore current clinical trials involving radiopharmaceuticals and reflect on the impact this will have on practice |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 7 | Learning outcome 1,3,5,6 |
Training activities
Review the effect of legislation and guidance on radiopharmacy practice and reflect on how this guides practice |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 8 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Shadow a healthcare professional administering a radiopharmacutical and scanning the patient and reflect on their role |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 9 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Shadow a Radiation Protection Supervisor and reflect on their role |
Type OTA | Action View |
| # 10 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,6 |
Training activities
Observe the preparation and administration of a radiopharmaceutical therapy dose and reflect on the process |
Type OTA | Action View |
Assessments
Complete 1 Case-Based Discussion
Complete 1 DOPS or OCE
Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles
- Carry out and document radiation monitoring of a room following preparation of a radiopharmaceutical.
- Carry out an operator broth test.
- Carry out daily cleaning using an appropriate cleaning agent.
- Calculate the volume of a technetium radiopharmaceutical kit required for a future dose.
Observed Communication Event Titles
- Gather a patient history relevant to a nuclear medicine procedure from a patient, patient representative, or a member of the multidisciplinary team.
- Present a patient history relevant to the nuclear medicine to another healthcare professional.
Learning outcomes
| # | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Explore the contribution of Radiopharmacy Services to patient care. |
| 2 | Identify the roles and relationships of the multidisciplinary team in Radiopharmacy Services. |
| 3 | Describe the working practices of Radiopharmacy Services. |
| 4 | Examine the impact of innovation in Radiopharmacy Services. |
| 5 | Review the effect of legislation in Radiopharmacy Services. |
| 6 | Compare and contrast the practice of Radiopharmacy Services with other areas of Pharmaceutical Sciences. |
Clinical experiences
Activities
There is no clinical experiential learning associated with this module.
Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)
Important information
The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:
- Discuss the role of the Clinical Scientist in Pharmaceutical Science in ensuring the safety of the patient, with regard to the preparation, manufacture, quality assurance and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals.
- Critically appraise the UK regulatory requirements and guidance relating to the design and operation of radiopharmacies and discuss the possible conflicts between these requirements.
- Critically evaluate the radionuclides used in nuclear medicine and the different types of radiopharmaceuticals in routine clinical practice.
- Apply integrative knowledge of the operation of a hospital radiopharmacy department and the activities undertaken in a hospital Nuclear Medicine department.
- Critique the application of the principles of quality assurance in radiopharmacy.
- Critically evaluate the application of the principles of radiation protection in radiopharmacy.
- Demonstrate extended understanding of the interactions of radiation with biological systems.
- Discuss the theory and practice of radiolabelling of blood cells.
Indicative content
- Discuss the role of the Clinical Scientist in Pharmaceutical Science in ensuring the safety of the patient, with regard to the preparation, manufacture, quality assurance and quality control of radiopharmaceuticals.
- Regulations and guidance
- Good manufacturing practice (GMP)
- Pharmaceutical quality systems
- Aseptic techniques
- Radiation protection
- Quality assurance
- Quality control methods
- Patient safety
- Critically appraise UK regulatory requirements and guidance relating to the design and operation of radiopharmacies and discuss the possible conflicts between these requirements. For example:
- Medicines Act 1968
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and 2020
- Ionising radiation Regulations
- Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations
- Environmental Permitting Regulations
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods & Use of Transportable Pressurised Equipment Regulations
- Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (REPPIR)
- International Commission on Radiological Protection
- Radiation Risk Assessments
- Local Rules
- EU GMP
- QAAPS
- Critically evaluate the radionuclides used in nuclear medicine and the different types of radiopharmaceuticals in routine clinical practice.
- Problems arising from their use
- Alpha, beta, gamma, positron and PET radiopharmaceuticals
- The radiopharmaceutical chemistry of these radionuclides
- The influence of physical and chemical properties on the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals
- Principles, design and operation of technetium generators
- Radiopharmaceutical kits and the reagents used therein
- The different formulations used in nuclear medicine, including properties and preparation
- Apply integrative knowledge ofthe operation of a hospital radiopharmacy department.
- Activities normally undertaken in a hospital radiopharmacy
- Preparation of different types of radiopharmaceuticals
- Radiation protection and monitoring
- Aseptic preparation
- Transport of radiopharmaceuticals
- Radiopharmaceutical auality control testing
- Quality assurance
- Radiopharmaceutical calculations
- Apply integrative knowledge of the activities undertaken in a hospital Nuclear Medicine department.
- Diagnosis using radioactive materials
- Treatment using radioactive materials
- Theory and practice of cell labelling
- Critique the application of the principles of quality assurance in radiopharmacy pharmaceutical quality systems
- Documentation
- Radiopharmaceutical quality control
- Environmental monitoring
- Critically evaluate the application of the principles of radiation protection in radiopharmacy regulations and guidance
- Time/distance/shielding
- Controlled areas
- Radiation monitoring
- Types of monitor used
- Preventing and dealing with radioactive contamination
- Management of radioactive waste
- Incidents and reporting
- Demonstrate extended understanding of the interactions of radiation with biological systems.
- Explain in both qualitative and quantitative terms the interactions of radiation with biological systems
- Discuss the relative risks of nuclear medicine procedures compared with other potentially hazardous life events
- Radiobiological effects of radiation
- Relative risks of nuclear medicine procedures
- Describe the structure of the atom, the most important means of radioactive decay of unstable nuclei and the types of radiation emitted.
- Atomic structure
- Atomic decay
- Alpha, beta, gamma, positron and x-ray radiation
- Understand the nomenclature, principles and mechanisms of atomic reactions
- Atomic and nuclear structure
- Alpha, beta, gamma, positron emission reactions