Tulane REDCap is intended to support funded research within the Tulane University community. Redcap should not be used as a database system in perpetuity for clinical databases and record keeping. REDCap is an electronic (online) data capture system that is secure, HIPAA compliant, and backed up. It is well-designed for epidemiological, sociological, environmental and clinical research studies.
REDCap runs over a secure web application via web browser for access. The system is robust for building and managing online surveys and databases and time-based data collection protocols for research projects. Using REDCap's stream-lined process for developing projects, you may create and design projects using the online method from your web browser using the Online Designer.
REDCap provides automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to Excel 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 branching logic (surveys), file uploading, and calculated fields.
REDCap has a robust internal help system which includes a Help & FAQ and embedded training videos. There are number of excellent YouTube training videos from introductory to advanced topics.
Tulane SPHTM supports two instances of REDCap:
- TRAINING instance for the creation and development of projects including data collection forms and project design, and user testing and training
- PRODUCTION instance for the collection, management and storage of research and operational data
If you are interested in using REDCap for research or operational projects there are a few simple steps to follow:
- REDCap runs under a variety of browsers including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.
- Request a user account for the TU REDCap TRAINING instance by completing the REDCap TRAINING Account Access Request Form. If you are an external collaborator and not employed by Tulane, then this account must be requested by a Tulane sponsoring employee.
PLEASE NOTE: The TRAINING account is for training and development activities only - under no circumstances should real study data be collected using this account. Data stored on this training instance will be purged periodically and will not be backed up.
- Within the REDCap TRAINING instance you may access several REDCap training modules developed and provided by Vanderbilt University. We recommend you utilize this resource and that you use the TRAINING instance to learn REDCap, design and test your project, enter test data, and train personnel on projects.
- If you are either the Principal Investigator or Project Manager and have successfully developed a project in the TRAINING instance and are ready to collect real study data, then you can request a new project on the TU REDCAP PRODUCTION instance by completing the REDCap Production-Ready Project Request Form. In so doing, you are taking responsibility for the adherence to the TU REDCap Appropriate Use Policy.
- If new users need to be added to your study project in the PRODUCTION instance and they already have access to the TRAINING instance, please complete the REDCap PRODUCTION Account Access Request Form. This request should be made by the project manager or PI for whom the project was initially created.
If you are working on a TU IRB approved protocol, then yes you are eligible to use TU REDCap. Your access to REDCap must be sponsored by a Tulane employee who is a lead investigator on the project.
You may explore the main REDCap user community at: https://projectredcap.org/resources/community/
Please cite the REDCap project when publishing using the following language:
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, Jonathan 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.
