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Benefits of Electronic Data Capture & REDCap

Benefits of Electronic Data Capture (EDC)​

  • Reduce or eliminate paper records

  • Data can be accessed from anywhere

  • Improve data quality, reduce missingness

  • Automatic audit trails

Benefits of REDCap​

Please see the Definitions section at the bottom to clarify REDCap-specific or technical terms.

  • Secure and web based: Input data from anywhere in the world with secure web authentication, data logging, and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

  • Fast and flexible: Conception to production-level database in less than one day.

  • Easy to learn and use: No programming skills required to set up a project.

  • Multisite access: Projects can be used by researchers from multiple sites and institutions.

    • Each site can see their own entries only

    • Access can be restricted as well/set criteria using data access groups (DAGs).

  • Fully customizable: You are in total control of shaping your database or survey.

  • Advanced question features: Auto-validation, branching (skip) logic, calculations.

  • Mid-study modifications: You may modify the database or survey at any time during the study.

  • Data import functions: Data may be imported from external data sources to begin a study or to provide mid-study data uploads.

  • Data comparison functions: Double data entry / Blinded data entry.

  • Export results to common data analysis packages: Export your data to Microsoft Excel, SAS, STATA, R, or SPSS for analysis.

  • Free of charge to use (dependent upon institutional policy).

  • Detailed audit trail (logging) captures all activity and data viewed or modified by any user in a project. The log is available through the user interface and the records can be filtered in many ways and exported. Details about data changes can also be viewed at the field level in each form.

  • Accessible via an application programming interface (API).

    • Able to integrate with other databases such as ontology portals, Epic and other EHR systems (depends on institutional policy).

    • Seamless integration with NACC's data submission systems.

  • Training videos and FAQ integrated into the software.

  • Secure Messenger and Send-It data transfer application come included.

  • Optional Data Resolution Workflow allows users to assign data queries and track their resolution. The dashboard has options to filter and export a report for the queries.

  • Many options for customizing group roles and permissions.

For information about HIPAA compliancy, please see REDCap's FAQ page. For more information about the software, see this page.

Benefits of REDCap for UDS4​

  • Used by more than half of the ADRCs across the country.

  • Opportunities to collaborate with other centers on form development

  • Easily upload to project

  • Potential to automate uploading-downloading data (or metadata) from-to NACC through the API

  • Community development of forms is managed and shared by NACC.

Definitions​

  • Application programming interface (API): An interface that allows external applications to connect to REDCap remotely and is used for programmatically retrieving or modifying data or settings within REDCap, such as performing automated data imports/exports from a specified project.

  • Audit trail: A record of all views, edits and exports by user in a REDCap project. Metadata about survey respondent use is captured as well.

  • Auto validation: A tool that can be implemented at the field level in REDCap to immediately flag a value if the data entered does not fit the specified criteria. The terms of validation are defined by NACC. Example: validate the date and email address with specific choices/formats, limit numeric terms (i.e., Number of characters).

  • Branching logic/skip logic: Ability to hide/display fields under certain conditions. If branching logic is defined, the field will only be visible if the conditions provided are true.

  • Record Status Dashboard: A page that displays a table listing all records/responses and their completion status for every data collection instrument (and if longitudinal, for every event). Dashboards can also be customized to only include records that meet certain criteria.

  • Data access groups (DAGs): An optional tool used to restrict access of records to pre-determined groups. Example: Multisite studies where each site can only view the records that belong to their site.

  • Data Resolution Workflow: An optional tool used to distribute and track correction of queries on specific fields within data entry forms. This provides a way for team members to communicate with others on discrepancies. In this tool, you can assign a query to another REDCap member to resolve it. Also, you can use this as an operational tool to produce reports.

  • Calculations: A field type in REDCap that performs a calculation, typically involving other fields within the project. The value displayed in a calculated field cannot be edited. Example: The total score for a psychological battery; more complicated calculations (ie. GDS calc with nested IF statements) may not be exported for all centers.

  • eConsent framework: An optional platform for consenting patients or research subjects either on site or at home using a computer-based consent form rather than traditional paper documentation. The repository for completed consent documentation can be in an FDA Part 11 compliant environment, depending on the REDCap instance. The framework can also document versioning of the consent form.

  • Log: see Audit trail

  • Record: All data relating to a certain participant within a REDCap project.

  • Secure Messenger: An optional communication platform built directly into REDCap allowing users to communicate with each other securely through direct messages or group conversations. Not all REDCap instances enable this feature. This tool must be enabled by a REDCap administrator.

  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): A protocol for establishing a secure channel between two devices that are connected over the Internet or internal connection.

  • Send-It: A secure data transfer application that allows users to upload a file (up to 200 MB in size) and then allows multiple recipients to download the file in a secure manner. The recipient does not have to be a REDCap user. This tool must be enabled by a REDCap administrator.