REDCap
What is REDCap?
Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) is a publicly available, web-based application created by Vanderbilt University and widely used by Clinical & Translational Science Award (CTSA) institutions. REDCap allows users to build and manage online surveys and databases quickly for research studies and operations.
Through its membership in the REDCap consortium, the University of Maryland, Baltimore is able to offer the campus access to this powerful data collection and data management platform. While users can design their own data collection tools, the REDCap Shared Library has data collection instruments and forms that can be downloaded and used by researchers. Data collected are stored and maintained locally on campus in a firewalled server managed by the UMB Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center (CTRIC).
REDCap provides automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to Excel, PDF, and common statistical packages (SPSS, SAS, Stata, R) as well as a built-in project calendar, a scheduling module, ad hoc reporting tools, and advanced features, such as auto-validation, branching logic, file uploading, calculated fields, and survey stop actions.
Notice: If you are collecting data for the purposes of human subjects research, your project will require UMB Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.
Additional REDCap Features
-
Grant and manage individual user or data group user rights and permissions. The latter is useful for multicenter studies.
-
Ad Hoc Reporting
-
Scheduling: Built-in project calendar and scheduling module for events and participant visits
-
Create and manage a contact list of survey respondents or create a simple survey link to email out or post on a website
-
REDCap Mobile App:-Collect data offline using an app on a mobile device when there is no Wi-Fi or cellular connection, and then later sync data back to the server
-
Send files to others securely
-
Print data collection instruments as a PDF to collect data offline
-
REDCap API: Have external applications connect to REDCap remotely in a programmatic or automated fashion
How do I learn to use REDCap?
REDCap video tutorials: REDCap has video tutorials throughout the application, but you can access a list of the most current videos here
On-campus REDCap training: The UMB Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center (CTRIC) hosts free one-hour group training/discussion sessions. Email the REDCap Help Desk at research@som.umaryland.edu to be added to the notification list or to request more advanced assistance.
REDCap Shared Library has a repository for REDCap data collection instruments and forms that can be downloaded and used. Curated instruments have been approved for inclusion by the REDCap Library Oversight Committee (REDLOC) after review for research relevance, accuracy in function and coding, and copyright issues.
Getting Access to REDCap
REDCap data sits behind SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) on campus and is managed by the Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center (CTRIC). Users will need their UMID to log on to the REDCap-SOM VPN to create and manage their REDCap projects. Respondents to REDCap surveys DO NOT need a REDCap account.
To establish a UMB REDCap account and information about how to access REDCap, email research@som.umaryland.edu for instructions.
REDCap and UMB ICTR
REDCap is a UMB ICTR-supported resource. Though REDCap is designed to allow the investigator to build their project with little to no cost, more complex projects may require significant, customized service from the UMB REDCap staff and incur significant costs. If you are interested in ICTR support, please visit https://www.umaryland.edu/ictr/investigator-resources/ictr-informatics-core-services/ , and submit your request through the UMB ICTR Resource Request form.