title: Comparison of curricula in radiation technology in the field of radiotherapy in selected European Union countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation technology is a discipline of medical science which deals with diagnostics, imaging and radiotherapy, that is treatment by ionizing radiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present and compare the existing curricula of radiation technology in selected EU countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research work done for the purpose of the comparative analysis was based on the methods of diagnostic test and document analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparison of curricula in selected countries, namely Austria, France, the Netherlands and Poland, showed that admission criteria to radiation technology courses are varied and depend on regulations of respective Ministries of Health. The most restrictive conditions, including written tests in biology, chemistry and physics, and psychometric test, are those in France. Contents of basic and specialist subject groups are very similar in all the countries. The difference is in the number of ECT points assigned to particular subjects and the number of course hours offered. The longest practical training is provided in the Netherlands and the shortest one in Poland. The duration of studies in the Netherlands is 4 years, while in Poland it is 3 years. Austria is the only country to offer extra practical training in quality management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Graduates in the compared EU countries have similar level of qualifications in the fields of operation of radiological equipment, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, foreign language and specialist terminology in the field of medical and physical sciences, general knowledge of medical and physical sciences, and detailed knowledge of radiation technology.
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janaszczyk
authors.affiliation: The Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Department of the Radiation Technology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bogusz-Czerniewicz
keywords: Curricula; Electroradiology; Nuclear medicine; Radiotherapy