What is REDCap?
REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based software platform designed to support data capture for research studies. It provides an intuitive interface for validated data entry, audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures, automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to common statistical packages, and procedures for data integration and interoperability with external sources.
Some key features of REDCap include:
- Online surveys with complex branching logic and calculated fields
- Customizable data collection instruments including surveys, case report forms and schedules
- Real-time validation rules (with inline alerts)
- Ad hoc reporting tools, graphs and stats for monitoring study progress
- Calendar events and scheduling tools for managing study visits
- Role-based access control for members of large research teams
REDCap is secure and HIPAA compliant, with authentication practices from institutional directories, access logging, and encryption for data at rest and in transit. It is designed to support multi-site and multi-language research projects. The software is modular and expandable via add-ons called REDCap Modules.
REDCap is widely used in academic medical centers and universities. Its primary users are clinical and translational researchers conducting longitudinal research. It is well regarded for its flexibility to capture heterogeneous and complex data for downstream analysis while reducing burdens and errors associated with traditional paper-based data capture.