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Medication Field Configuration

Introduction​

In a text box field in a REDCap project, a special feature can be enabled that provides auto-suggest functionality for real-time searching within biomedical ontologies, such as RxNorm, ICD-9, ICD-10, Snomed CT, LOINC, etc. The ontology serves as a validation by providing an auto-generated choice list. This is a medications list that assigns valid numeric responses when choosing the medication name. With this validation in place, the data is standardized.

Relevance to UDSv4​

For Form A4 in UDSv4, several medication fields are validated for the RxNorm ontology. With the RxNorm ontology enabled, the data entry person can start typing the medication name and see a list of choices with keyword matches. The medications identified in the RxNorm database during data entry are valid responses for NACC uploads.

Troubleshooting & Caveats​

  1. The RxNorm ontology is only available on REDCap installations that have enabled the BioPortal API. If your REDCap installation does not have the service enabled, you can send the instructions at this link to your REDCap Administrator and see if they would be willing to implement it.
  2. A user will only be able to change field type or enable/disable the validation if they have Project Design rights.
  3. NACC will accept all variations of RxNorm medications with dosages.
  4. Only RxNorm drug codes will be accepted in form A4.

EDC-developed A4 Form (Participant Medications)​

Form A4 has 40 medication fields, configured as follows:

  • 15 text box fields validated for the RxNorm ontology
  • 15 drop-down list fields that offer the top 100 Drugs as choices (The raw choices are the RxNorm codes)
  • 10 integer-validated text box fields (Into which the RxNorm code can be manually entered)

Each Center can customize the above configuration as they wish. All 40 fields must be in the form and keep the variable name provided. But the Center can choose to make more of the fields RxNorm-validated or more of the drop-down list fields. Regardless, we advise keeping at least a few of the fields as text box fields. That accommodates the occasion when you can't find the drug code.

Deciding which field type to use​

  • If the REDCap instance you are using does not have the BioPortal Ontology API call available as a validation on a field, you will need to use either the Drop-down list or the Text box fields. You'll need to convert the first 15 fields (the ones validated with the RxNorm ontology) to either Drop-down list or Text box fields.

  • If you find that there are certain medications that are commonly selected and you don't want to call up the long list of all RxNorm drug codes, use the Drop-down list fields.

  • If the medications you need to enter are not in the Drop-down list and you don't want/can't use the RxNorm-validated fields, you can use the Text box fields to manually enter the RxNorm drug code.

To change fields in Form A4​

To change from an RxNorm or Text field to a Drop-down list field​

  1. Open an existing Drop-down list field in the form (Medications 16-30)

    Designer page with red box around the pencil icon for a field. Pop-up text shows the word 'Edit'.

  2. Put your cursor inside the Choices box and copy all the choices (⌘+a or Control+a and then ⌘+c or Control+c)

    Edit field box with red arrow pointing to Choices box. Choices within the box are highlighted.

  3. Cancel out of the field and open the field that you want to change.

  4. Change field type to Multiple Choice -- dropdown list

    Edit field box with red box around the drop-down arrow for Field Type.

    Edit field box with red box around selection 'Multiple Choice - Drop-down List (Single Answer).

  5. In the 'Choices' box, paste the choices you copied from the existing drop-down list field.

    Edit field box with red arrow pointing to Choices box. Choices within the box are not highlighted.

  6. Tick the box for 'Enable auto-complete'.

    Edit field box with red box around the tick box for 'Enable auto-complete for this drop-down'.

  7. Click the 'Save' button

    Bottom half of Edit field page, showing choices box and a red box around the 'Save' button.

To change from an RxNorm field to a Text box field​

  1. Open an existing RxNorm field in the form (Medications 1-15)

    Designer page with red box around the pencil icon for a field. Pop-up text shows the word 'Edit'.

  2. In the validation section, click the drop-down that has the choice 'BioPortal Ontology Service' selected for it.

    Validation section with red box around the drop-down arrow for BioPortal Ontology Service.

  3. Click the choice for 'select ontology service' (the first option in the list)

    Validation section with red box around 'select ontology service'

  4. The section for Enable searching within a biomedical ontology (for which RxNorm was selected) is no longer visible.

    Validation section with 'select ontology service' selected and no 'Enable searching within a biomedical ontology' visible.

  5. Click on the drop-down arrow for Validation

    Validation section with a red box around the drop-down arrow for the Validation drop-down list.

  6. Select Integer

    Validation section with the drop-down list of validation choices and a red box around 'Integer'.

  7. Enter 0 as the minimum and 999999999999999 (15 zeroes) as the maximum

    Validation section with a red box around Minimum and Maximum. Mininmum = 0

  8. Click in the Action Tag box.

    Left side of Field Editor with red box in the Action Tag section.

  9. A Logic Editor box will pop up. Type @FORCE-MINMAX (case-sensitive) and then the 'Update & Close Editor' button

    Logic Editor with red box around @FORCE-MINMAX and the 'Update & Close Editor' button.

  10. Click the 'Save' button

    Edit field page with red box around 'Save' button.

To change from a Drop-down list to an RxNorm field​

  1. Open an existing Drop-down list field in the form (Medications 16-30)

    Designer page with red box around the pencil icon for a field. Pop-up text shows the word 'Edit'.

  2. Click the drop-down arrow for field type

    Edit field page with red box around drop-down arrow for Field Type

  3. Select 'Text box' from the list

    Edit field page with red box around the Text Box selection in the drop-down list for Field Type.

  4. In the validation section, click the drop-down for 'select ontology service'

    Edit field page with red box around the 'select ontology service' drop-down arrow in the validation section.

  5. Select BioPortal Ontology Service.

    Edit field page with red box around the 'BioPortal Ontology Service' in the validation section.

  6. A second box will appear. Click on the drop-down arrow for 'choose ontology to search'.

    Edit field page with red box around the 'choose ontology Service' drop-down arrow in the validation section.

    Edit field page with red box around the choices listed in the 'choose ontology Service' in the validation section.

  7. Start typing RxNo and scroll down to select RxNorm

    List of ontology services with a red box around the RxNorm selection.

  8. Click the 'Save' button

    Validation section with red box around the 'Save' button.

To change from a Drop-down list to a Text field​

  1. Open an existing Drop-down list field in the form (Medications 16-30)

    Designer page with red box around the pencil icon for a field. Pop-up text shows the word 'Edit'.

  2. Click the drop-down arrow for field type

    Edit field page with red box around drop-down arrow for Field Type

  3. Select 'Text box' from the list

    Edit field page with red box around the Text Box selection in the drop-down list for Field Type.

  4. Click on the drop-down arrow for Validation

    Validation section with a red box around the drop-down arrow for the Validation drop-down list.

  5. Select Integer

    Validation section with the drop-down list of validation choices and a red box around 'Integer'.

  6. Enter 0 as the minimum

    Validation section with a red box around Minimum and Maximum. Minimum = 0 Click in the Action Tag box

    Left side of Field Editor with red box in the Action Tag section.

  7. A Logic Editor box will pop up. Type @FORCE-MINMAX (case-sensitive) and then the 'Update & Close Editor' button

    Logic Editor with red box around @FORCE-MINMAX and the 'Update & Close Editor' button.

  8. Click the 'Save' button

    Edit field page with red box around 'Save' button.

To change from a Text field to an RxNorm field​

  1. In the validation section, click the drop-down that has 'Integer' selected

    Validation section with red box around drop-down arrow. 'Integer' is already selected.

  2. Select 'None', the option at the top of the list.

    Validation drop-down list with red box around 'None'.

  3. Click the drop-down for 'select ontology service'

    Edit field page with red box around the 'select ontology service' drop-down arrow in the validation section.

  4. Select BioPortal Ontology Service.

    Edit field page with red box around the 'BioPortal Ontology Service' in the validation section.

  5. A second box will appear. Click on the drop-down arrow for 'choose ontology to search'.

    Edit field page with red box around the 'choose ontology Service' drop-down arrow in the validation section.

  6. A list of choices will appear.

    Edit field page with red box around the choices listed in the 'choose ontology Service' in the validation section.

  7. Start typing RxNo and scroll down to select RxNorm

    List of ontology services with a red box around the RxNORM selection.

  8. Click the 'Save' button

    Validation section with red box around the 'Save' button.

Additional Resources​

See this video for a tutorial on enabling RxNorm on a field.