A programme of study was designed and developed by academic and clinical specialists to ensure:
- academic rigour
- professional requirements
- clinical requirements
Brainstorming sessions were initially undertaken with mammographers / ultrasonographers/ breast radiologists who had been involved with ‘in house training’ programmes of study to consider :
- Entry requirements
- Programme Delivery
- Programme Content
- Assessment Procedures
- Academic Assessment
- Conferment of Competency
Entry requirements must ensure: - Previous clinical experience and underpinning knowledge to develop and extend their practice in this specialist field
- Working in the relevant clinical area
- Written support by the supervising radiologist / expert practitioner
- Current Trust CPR Certificate of Attendance
- Approved Protocols and Schemes of Work for extended practice within this specialist field - this was included as a pre -requisite after the first delivery. Students were unable to gain the clinical skills until these Protocols and Schemes of work were approved limiting the time to gain clinical experience.
Programme Delivery:
Flexibility of delivery is crucial but must ensure:
- Maintenance of academic requirements for the level of clinical expertise
- Maintenance of clinical standards
Image Guided Interventional Procedures of the Breast and the Associated Professional Issues - 30 Credits Level M
Evidence for content requirements; - OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
- EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE OF: Stereotactic Interventional Procedures & Ultrasound Guided Interventional Procedures
Image Guided Interventional Procedures of the Breast: - 15 Credits level M
The aim of this module is to enable the student to acquire the knowledge and skills required to perform tissue sampling under stereotactic or ultrasound control.
On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:
- pathology related to breast disease;
-
aseptic technique and infection control; -
the administration of local anaesthetic and possible complications; -
the preparation of specimens for pathology; -
contraindications to core biopsy; -
the practical aspects of performing Hook Wires; -
the requirements of a written protocol and scheme of work for undertaking interventional procedures
and
-
demonstrate the ability to perform competently and safely, whilst providing satisfactory patient care tissue sampling of the breast under imaging.
and
-
critically evaluate professional accountability and the parameters of this extended professional role.
Professional Studies - 15 Credits Level M
On completion of this module students should be able to consider and evaluate their professional practice with relevance to:
- The emotional impact of their work on health professionals, clients and their management
- Professional accountability, including their actions and implications
- The understanding and practice of the legal, ethical and organisational aspects of current diagnostic imaging practice
- The parameters of their professional role, the changing health care needs of clients and organisations
- An overview of research planning strategies and the use of these skills in critically evaluating effectiveness of practice
Assessment requirements for Postgraduate Study - Evidence of ability to conduct independent in –depth enquiry within the discipline
- Demonstrate the ability to apply breadth and / or depth of knowledge to a complex specialist area
- Draw on a range of perspectives on an area of study
- Evaluate and criticise received opinion
- Make reasoned judgement whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data
- Conferment of clinical competence
Assessment - Professional Studies: - 2,500 word assignment
- 10 minute presentation
The topic is chosen by the candidate from a selection of titles covering the module content
Assessment - Image Guided Interventional Procedures of the Breast:
Completion of a Clinical Workbook PASS / FAIL
This comprises of specific clinical activities and clinical experience numbers for each invasive procedure demonstrating progression from;
-
observation -
supervision -
minimal supervision
Fig.
Case Study 2,000 words –
60% weighting This is a case the candidate has undertaken the image guided procedure with minimal supervision
3 x 400 word case reports on 3 separate invasive procedures from the clinical workbook each with a different focus – 40% weighting
Report 1 – demonstrating understanding as to why the lesion needs to be biopsied and how the results will affect the clinical management of the patient
Report 2 – discussion of a case where there is a discrepancy between the imaging appearances and the biopsy result and what effect this may have on the patient management
Report 3 – reflection on a difficult biopsy undertaken focusing on evaluation and management of that case.