Transcript REDCap2014
REDCAP
RESEARCH ELECTRONIC DATA CAPTURE
Amy Wahlquist
February 12, 2014
GETTING STARTED
https://redcap.musc.edu
Login with NetID and password
Welcome screen
Home
My Projects – list of all projects you currently have access to
Create New Project
Training Resources – videos
Help and FAQ
Send-It – Secure data transfer application
CREATING A NEW DATABASE
Project title
Purpose
If you choose research, then you need PI name, IRB number, type of research
If you choose other, then give description
Start project from scratch or begin with template?
None is required, but helpful to have all information
If beginning with a template, cannot “go back” and will have to make all changes
manually – by enabling options you want to add
Templates available
Basic Demography
Classic Database
Human Cancer Tissue Biobank
Longitudinal Database (1 or 2 arms)
Multiple Surveys (classic or longitudinal)
Project Tracking Database
Randomized Clinical Trial
Single Survey
DATABASE INFORMATION
Project Home
Project Setup
Project status
Main project settings – change title/purpose and make customizations
**Design data collection instruments – data dictionary**
Optional modules and customizations/user rights
Change status/draft mode
Other Functionality
Quick Tasks - Check data quality (once data is collected)
Current users
Project statistics
Copy/delete/erase/archive database
Project Revision History
Menu (on left)
Data collection
Applications
Reports
Help
CREATING FORMS
From template – some forms created automatically
Can modify/rename/delete/reorder
**1st variable on 1st form is the unique identifier for
database**
Add forms/variables as needed
Variable names must be unique – not case sensitive
Variable labels can be reused (not always recommended)
FIELD TYPES
Text box
Notes box – no validation available, bad for analysis
Calculated field
Must provide equation for calculation
Use previously defined variables or constants – this can be from other forms
Multiple choice – only one answer
Used for all “free” entry including strings, numerics, dates
Drop down list
Radio buttons
Checkboxes (more than one answer) – REDCap creates dummy variables for you
Yes/No
True/False
Slider/Visual Analog Scale
File upload (good for uploading consent forms)
Descriptive text – with optional image/file attachment
Begin new section (must have at least one variable after header before section
can be added) *not an option for the last variable on a form
VALIDATION (TEXT BOX)
Date
Validation (date) allows for calendar to pop up and makes sure date is entered in
usable format
If possibility for missing information (e.g., day), consider entering day, month,
and year separately instead of date
Number/Integer
Use pop up calendar to choose date or enter with keyboard
Different date format options
Add ranges - warns if outside range, but still allows it
Decimal place option – doesn’t tell you on the form until you enter it wrong –
can use field note option to clarify for data entry person
Others
Date/time or Date/time with seconds
Email
Phone
Time
Zip
Letters only
MRN/SSN
FIELD OPTIONS
“Required” – prompts data entry person not to leave
something missing, but does not actually “require” it
“Identifier” – tags variables with protected health
information for exporting de-identified data
“Check for Identifiers” – design your data collection
instruments – can do them all at once
BRANCHING LOGIC
For fields that should only be asked at certain times (i.e.,
only ask about possibility of pregnancy if participant is
female)
Convenience to data entry person (lets them skip
questions without putting “n/a”)
No difference in branching missing vs. left intentionally
blank with regards to data
Advanced vs. Drag-N-Drop
Branching can use variables from separate forms (*NEW
feature*)
TIPS WHEN CREATING FORMS
Drag and drop variables to reorder
Copy/edit to make quick copies of similar variables
Download data dictionary to Excel file to make changes and
then upload new data dictionary - for large number of similar
changes
Multiple choice options creates numeric values for options
“behind the scenes”
Note that when “copy” is used, the variable name is generated and
may need be changed
Always starts at 1 and increases
Can force values you want
Be consistent!! (for missing, n/a, etc)
Print CRFs after creating database to have a “hard copy”
(these won’t show the branching logic or calculations but will
show all variables on a form)
BEWARE
Cannot force entering data in certain units (kgs, lbs)
Add a field note to remind the data entry person
Calculations will remain missing if any of the variables
used to create it are missing
Creating adverse event forms - still not a great way to do
this
Create one form with lots of branching
Create more than one form (one for each potential AE)
Other suggestions??
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES
Define events
If you use the same # days offset (1,1,1, etc), events will be
alphabetized
Create arms if necessary (different schedule of events)
Designate instruments for events
SCHEDULING
Only available for longitudinal
Must enable “Scheduling Module”
Scheduling
Generate schedule for each patient based on event design
Modify/add visits as needed
Can print for records
Calendar tool
Add other events – per patient or in general
Agenda (upcoming for all patients)
DATA EXPORT/IMPORT
Export
“Simple” takes all variables (that you have permission to download)
“Advanced”
Choose forms/variables to export
De-identification options
Citation notice
Software – need to download all files provided
Excel, SPSS, SAS , R, STATA
Data import
Data must be in same format as REDCap database (.csv file and
variables in the same order)
Won’t create variables – only import data into existing variables
**This is different from the data dictionary upload which will create
variables**
OTHER TOOLS
Data comparison tool (compares 2 records currently in a
database)
Logging (keeps track of any use of database)
File repository
User rights – be careful with default options (especially
exporting rights)
Data access groups – limits access to database records
Check permissions when you add a new form
Graphical view and stats – quick and dirty view
PRODUCTION STATUS
Request through “Project Setup”
Request Service through SPARK
https://sctr.musc.edu/
After in “production” - changes are not “live” until
submitted for approval (use draft mode to make more
changes)
Make sure to check for deletion of data/other potential
problems
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Parent Child Linking (cannot be used with longitudinal)
Double Data Entry
Randomization Module (needs certain user rights)
Surveys – can now do multiple surveys in the same
database (be careful when trying to do de-identified
follow-up surveys)
Data Quality
Report builder (need to think about what reports you
will want before creating database to make sure it will
work in report builder)
RESOURCES
REDCap Shared Library
Forms already created and validated can be imported directly
into library
Listserv:
email [email protected] (in body of message,
type the word “subscribe”)
Email [email protected] (to reach administrators)
REDCap videos