REDCap Web-interface Database System

Jonathan D. Mahnken, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics Director, Data Management and Statistics Core October 6, 2012

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What is REDCap?

• Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) • “[REDCap] is a novel workflow methodology and

software solution designed for rapid development and deployment of electronic data capture tools to support clinical and translational research.” (Harris et al., 2009)

• Among key features: – User authentication and role-based security – Real-time data validation and entry checks – Auditing capabilities – Uses MySQL relational database

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Selecting REDCap • KU ADC new in 2011 • Institutional investments

– Velos eResearch (CRIS) institutional license – REDCap growth with the newly-formed Div. of Medical Informatics

• KU ADC needed a system… – …capable of supporting large, multi-site studies, which typically

budget informatics personnel to build eCRFs – Able to efficiently support smaller scale projects (e.g., KU ADC pilot

projects) with small budgets • KUMC approach to eCRF development

– CRIS: eCRFs built by personnel in Dept. of Biostatistics – REDCap: range of options from investigators developing eCRFs (e.g.,

model described by Harris et al., 2009) to budgeting for informatics support

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Selecting REDCap (cont.) • Clinical Core’s experience with both programs and

preference weighed heavily on our decision • Strengths of REDCap

– Cost – Web-based user interface supports multi-site studies – Facilitates eCRF development by investigators for small budget

projects by… • …creating metadata table in Excel for data dictionary • …using the Online Designer via web browser

– Can facilitate link between study specific data with other data captured by the ADC (e.g., UDS)

– Sharable form set with other ADCs • Opted for “out-of-the-box” REDCap utilization to sharing our database

structure with other ADCs

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Data Capture and Workflow

• Master patient index for all subjects – Clinical Core assigns unique KU ADC ID for each

subject – KU ADC ID used across all ADC forms

• Links across databases – Recruitment – UDS and ADC-specific cohort – Ability to link pilot study databases

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Data Capture and Workflow (cont.) • ADC ID selected from drop-down list

– Additional subject information displayed to assist with drop-down selection

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Data Capture and Workflow (cont.)

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Form A4: Subject Medications

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Audit Capabilities • Creates searchable spreadsheet that captures:

– User that entered/modified data – Date and time – Original value – New value – Reason for change

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Other Features • “Out-of-the-box” features

– Graphical Data View & Stats for quick univariate descriptive and graphical presentation of cohort data

– Export facility to statistical software

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• New features can be requested – For example, we requested additional input

restriction features, which have now been implemented as “out-of-the-box” features

• Better facilitates sharing (e.g., across ADCs)

Back-up and Security • REDCap application server

– Secured from unauthorized access, with access limited to only a few administrators

– Nightly back-up to different location – Uses https to encrypt data transmission

• REDCap database server – Secured from unauthorized access, with access limited to only a few

administrators – Protected by firewall and intrusion detection system maintained by IR – Nightly back-up to different location – Daily back-up (up to three times/day)

• Utilizes Central Authentication Server – Common username and password for KUMC applications

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Hosting a REDCap Instance

• Cost of REDCap (http://project-redcap.org/)

– No cost for REDCap software and support “to institutional partners”

• …though not open-source

– Does have infrastructure requirements (not free like “air”)

• Hardware needed to host system • Personnel to maintain security, implement upgrades,

etc.

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Citing REDCap • Recommended citation at http://project-redcap.org/

Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at [YOUR INSTITUTION].1 REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies, providing: 1) an intuitive interface for validated data entry; 2) audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures; 3) automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to common statistical packages; and 4) procedures for importing data from external sources. – 1Paul A. Harris, Robert Taylor, Robert Thielke, Jonathon Payne, Nathaniel Gonzalez, Jose G. Conde, Research electronic

data capture (REDCap) - A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support, J Biomed Inform. 2009 Apr;42(2):377-81.

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Acknowledgements • DMSC: Cathy Price, Suzanne Hunt, Bhargav Adagarla, Russ Waitman • Department of Biostatistics: Lexie Brown, Dan Connolly, Kahlia Ford,

Mani Nair • Clinical Core: Jeff Burns, Brad Amstein, Anne Arthur, David Johnson,

Eric Vidoni • MGM Core: Russ Swerdlow • This work was supported by grants from the NIA (P30AG035982),

NACC (U01AG016976), and a CTSA grant from NCRR and NCATS(UL1TR000001; formerly UL1RR033179). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH, NIA, NACC, NCRR, or NCATS.

…and of course…

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Acknowledgements (cont.)

Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools (Harris et al., 2009) hosted at The University of Kansas Medical Center. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies, providing: 1) an intuitive interface for validated data entry; 2) audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures; 3) automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to common statistical packages; and 4) procedures for importing data from external sources.

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REFERENCES

• Paul A. Harris PA, Robert Taylor, Robert Thielke, Jonathon Payne, Nathaniel Gonzalez, Jose G. Conde, Research electronic data capture (REDCap) - A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support, J Biomed Inform. 2009 Apr;42(2):377-81

• http://project-redcap.org/

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