What are the main reasons a research team should be using REDCap?

Security

• Users access REDCap through a secure login page

• All traffic between the web browser and the application is encrypted

• Data is stored in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry's data centre, complying with the University's encryption policy

• Sophisticated user rights management give you control over what users can do in your project

• Audit trails provide accountability

• Our REDCap systems include two factor authentication and other advanced security measures

• REDCap Messenger allows messages to be sent securely to other users and team members without having to use insecure email systems.

• Additional security features are documented in our privacy policy document.

Ease of Use

• No prior database knowledge is required.

• Built-in training resources allow new users to learn as they go

• WCHRI hosts regular training sessions

Speed of Implementation

• The user interface is intuitive allowing simple studies to be built in minutes

Collaboration

• Because REDCap is web-based data entry can take place almost anywhere

• REDCap supports collaborative studies through Data Access Groups (study sites)

Reliability

• REDCap is in use in over 5,000 institutions worldwide.

• Developed by a team at Vanderbilt University REDCap is supported locally by WCHRI staff who have access to an active user support community.

• REDCap is installed on sophisticated IT infrastructure and is backed up multiple times per day. Backups are stored in the Faculty's backup data centre.

• We have been running REDCap systems here at the University of Alberta for more than ten years. Uptime is in excess of 99.9%.

Features

• REDCap supports a broad range of project types from simple surveys through complex longitudinal clinical trials.

• New functionality is added frequently

Enhanced Data Quality

• REDCap supports basic data quality features such as:

  • Structured data dictionary

  • Skip logic

  • Mandatory fields

  • Range checking

  • Form locking/unlocking

  • Missing value indicators

• The data quality module provides customized data quality checks

• Data resolution workflow allows for data queries to be raised and resolved.

Enhanced Output

• Simple reports and graphs can be generated directly in REDCap

• Data can be exported in a choice of formats to work with popular statistical packages such as SPSS, Stata, SAS and R. (You can also export data and work with it in Excel).

Advanced Functionality

• In addition to its standard support for data collection REDCap also includes support for:

  • Survey scheduling

  • Data quality workflows

  • Participant randomization

  • Data coding (through Bioportal)

  • Text and voice messaging

  • Online consenting

  • Data entry triggers and alerts

  • Integration with other systems through its API.

Why Shouldn't I Use Excel?

Excel is a great tool for collecting data simply and quickly. Anyone can do it. Unfortunately, its main strength is also its biggest weakness. Anyone can do anything they want in Excel with no consideration for security, privacy or data quality. Using a tool such as REDCap takes care of these research problems automatically. 

Also, the law requires that studies performed under a Health Canada Clinical Trial Application (CTA) comply with ICH GCP. The following elements of GCP are directly supported by REDCap.

• 1. Validation (We maintain a validated installation of REDCap. Excel is not validated.)

     • GCP 5.5.3 When using electronic trial data handling and/or remote electronic trial data systems, the sponsor should: (a) Ensure and document that the electronic data processing system(s) conforms to the sponsor’s established requirements for completeness, accuracy, reliability, and consistent intended performance (i.e., validation).

  2. Audit trails and logs. 

     • GCP 5.5.3 (c) Ensure that the systems are designed to permit data changes in such a way that the data changes are documented and that there is no deletion of entered data (i.e., maintain an audit trail, data trail, edit trail).

  3. Security

     • GCP 5.5.3 (d) Maintain a security system that prevents unauthorized access to the data.

  4. Backups

     •   GCP 5.5.3  (f) Maintain adequate backup of the data.

  5. Quality and data management (Data management tools, data types, required variables, min/max values, branching logic, data dictionary, etc.)

     • GCP 5.1.3 Quality control should be applied to each stage of data handling to ensure that all data are reliable and have been processed correctly.

     • GCP 5.5.3 (h) Ensure the integrity of the data including any data that describe the context, content, and structure.