1. Research electronic data capture (REDCap): A promising resource for database development and management and in PBRN research
Hannah Louks
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Department of Family Medicine

2. Outline What is REDCap? Background Why WREN uses REDCap
Overview of key features
Surveys
Tips for good design
Limitations
Resources

3. What is ? Research Electronic Data Capture
Used for building and managing surveys and databases quickly and securely
This includes protected health information (PHI)
462 consortium partners and rapidly growing
Developed at Vanderbilt University in 2004

4. Background: Challenges across PBRNs
116 primary care PBRNs
73% of practices have collaborated with another PBRN or plan to
National studies across PBRNs (i.e. CKD Guideline project)
Continued need to share data quickly and securely across PBRNs
Especially so with new AHRQ Research Centers (P30s)

5. Background: Challenges within PBRNs
Vast distribution of PBRN members across states/regions
Multicenter research designs
Multisite research networks (i.e. WREN)
Need to share data quickly and securely across sites

6. Background: Data Management and Quality
Substantial coordination and management needed to ensure high data quality, addressing:
Accessibility
Accuracy
Completeness
Comprehensiveness
Security
Why is this important?
Ensures consistency
Instills confidence in stakeholders, participants, etc.
Lays groundwork for uncomplicated data cleaning and analysis

7. Some reasons uses
Regional Research Coordinators can create data collection forms and surveys without the need for a programmer. (Although, will need a programmer to facilitate REDCap startup and software maintenance.)
RRCs can access data for multicenter studies regardless of where data collection is taking place (i.e. in a practice, remote chart abstraction from the office, etc.)
All data stored on REDCap compliant with UW IRB HIPAA standards for security.
Audit trails for tracking data manipulation and import/export.
Suitable for (almost) any multi-site study with web-based data entry capabilities.

8. Surveys vs. Data entry forms
-“Read-only” after submission
-Data entry performed by the participant
-URL can give access to form, regardless if REDCap user
-Can modify data at any time, as long as permitted -Audited data entry -Data entry performed by research team -Authorized REDCap users only
-Report build-ing
-Scheduling module
-Can be built using online designer or offline data dictionary

9. Sample case report form

10. Web-based data collection form builder

11. Data dictionary: Offline method for building data collection form

12. Audit Trail

13. Field Types Field Types (13 types) Matrix of Fields Text box Notes box
Calculated field
Multiple choice
Radio and dropdown buttons
Must select one answer only
Checkboxes (Multiple answers)
Yes/No
Begin new section
True/False
Slider/Visual Analog Scale
File upload
Descriptive Text
Matrix of Fields

14. Field Types: Screen Shots
Text Box
Notes Box
File Upload

15. Field Types: Screen Shots
Calculated Field
Radio Buttons
Checkboxes
Dropdown

16. Field Types: Screen Shots
Yes/No
Section Header
True/False
Slider/Analog Scale

17. Text Box Validation Option
Hard Validation - Error
message displayed if entry
does not match expected
format and entry not saved.
Soft Validation - Minimum &
Maximum Values
Can enter (not required) for date, integer, number, and time options.
Will alert data enterer if entry is outside of range, but will still save entry.
Advise on working with dates: 1) Make sure that date is entered in a useable format 2) If potential for missing information, consider making month, day, and year separate fields. 3) Data enterer can use pop-up calendar

18. Required and Identifier Fields
Required – Will alert data enterer if “required” field is left blank, but will allow you to opt to leave blank.
Identifier – Tags variables with PHI for removal option during export.

19. Matrix of Fields
Ideal for grouping of questions that share same response options (i.e. Likert scale questions)
“Answer Format” can be specified as radio buttons or checkboxes.
Screen shot courtesy of University of Iowa ICTS.

20. Branching Logic
Can be applied to a field to specify whether it will be displayed depending on information from other fields.
‘Section Header’ is the only field type that does not allow branching logic.

21. Quality Control

22. Data Access Groups
Allow multiple groups to enter data in one database without groups being able to view each other’s data.

23. Reports, Graphs, and Descriptive Stats
REDCap can display data using three different graphs types: bar charts, pie charts, and scatter plots.
Can navigate to a specific data record within REDCap by clicking on the associated data marker

24. Easily identify potential outliers.
Data Visualization
Easily identify potential outliers.

25. Data Export

26. REDCap Survey Pros Cons Private or public links Responses are secure
Ability to non-respondents
Multiple options and features for customizability
May only create one survey per project
Survey responses can not be changed once submitted (by either the respondent or the data enterer)

27. Survey Options Triggers & Notifications “Save & Return Later” option
You or other users will be notified via every time a respondent completes a survey
“Save & Return Later” option
Allows respondents to save a partially completed survey and complete the remaining portion at a later time.
Respondents will be given a unique validation code to enter when they return to the survey.
If the validation code is lost, the researcher can NOT recover this for the respondent – Keep this in mind when selecting this option.
Allow participants to view aggregate survey responses

28. Example: Screening Survey (and miscellaneous features)
Use HTML tags for font control
Reverse scoring

29. Example: Screening Survey cont.
Screen shown to respondent

30. Tips for Good Design
“Don’t use a hammer to swat a fly off someone’s head.”
Just because technology is available, does not mean you should use it.
Group similar information into sections.
Go through multiple trial runs with your database before moving a project to “production mode.”
Allows for less confusion down the road.

31. Limitations Limited flexibility in form design
Data entry on online form only possible with web or 3G connection
Once a project is in “production mode,” any changes must be submitted to a REDCap administrator for approval
Some revisions may not be allowed (i.e. changing variable names)
Not 21 CFR Part 11-compliant (not suitable for FDA governed clinical trials)

32. Resources http://project-redcap.org
REDCap Shared Library – a repository for REDCap data collection instruments and forms that can be downloaded and used (for free) by consortium partners
Video Resources – Webinars and tutorials

33. References & Acknowledgements
Paul Smith, Melody Bockenfeld, Mark Remiker, Kate Judge, and Don Thomson
Harris PA, Taylor R, Thielke R, Payne J, Gonzalez N, Conde JG. Research electronic data capture (REDCap) – A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. J Biomed Inform. April 2009;42(2):
Pace WD, Staton EW. Electronic data collection options for practice-based research networks. Ann Fam Med. 2005;3(Suppl 1): S21-S29.
Practice Based Research Networks (PBRN): PBRN Information. 14 May Available at Accessed 10 August 2012.
Select REDCap screenshots used with permission from University of Chicago Initiative in Biomedical Informatics.