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REDCap

This is an introductory guide to the exciting world of the electronic data capture program known as REDCap.

About REDCap

REDCap is a secure data collection tool that meets HIPAA compliance standards and can be used in single and multi-site research studies.  It is not 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.  REDCap is most useful for conducting surveys, scheduling study events, and designing data forms/collecting data for various kinds of research studies.  It was developed by a multi-institutional consortium that was led by Vanderbilt University in 2004.

Learn more about REDCap by watching a brief summary video (4 min).

How Does REDCap Work?

REDCap is accessible from any kind of device with a secure internet connection.  REDCap has good security because sensitive data never leaves the secure data center which contains its secure servers.  You can import data into REDCap as well as export data from REDCap.

REDCap databases are backed up on a regular schedule; the data backups are kept in a safe environment and are recoverable.

There is enough space for most research projects; larger research projects are handled on a case to case basis.  In general, there is no limit to the number of studies that you can have.

What Are the Benefits of REDCap?

  • Web-based and secure data collection that can be collected anywhere in the world with safe web authentication, data logging, and encryption
  • Advanced user right controls for greater data security and data integrity/quality
  • Efficient and dynamic – conception to database/survey creation in less than one day
  • Customizable and multi-site access; researchers can use projects from many sites and institutions
  • Quality assurance checks; auto-validation, branching logic, and stop actions
  • Flexible study modifications – a user can edit the survey or database at any time during the study
  • Ability to import data from external sources to start a study or to provide mid-study data uploads
  • Data entry quality control features like double data entry/blinded data entry
  • Ability to export survey results to statistical software like Microsoft Excel, SAS, STATA, R, or SPSS for example
  • Saving your survey as a PDF so that it’s available offline to fill out
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