REDCap Hands-On Lab
Fred McClurg
Neil Nuehring
Jesteny Pascual
University of Iowa
Institute for Clinical and Translational
Science (ICTS)
https://icts.uiowa.edu/confluence/download/attach
ments/53149797/REDCap_Lab_Boot_Camp.pdf
ICTS REDCap at U of Iowa
https://redcap.icts.uiowa.edu
Any U of Iowa
researcher
with a valid
hawkid and
password can
login and use
REDCap
Basic User Information Form
If you have not logged into REDCap previously, enter
your first name, last name and U of I email address.
You will receive
an email
requesting to
validate your
email address.
Upon
confirmation,
you will obtain
access.
Creating a New Project
Click the “Create New Project” tab:
Enter Project Title:
(fmcclurg)
Creating a New Project
Select the Project Purpose:
Project
Purpose
Categories
:
Creating a New Project
If the project
involves research,
please complete the
Principal
Investigator’s
contact data. This
information is very
important. It allows
us to:
1. Track research performed
2. Provide metrics regarding
resulting publications
3. Justify to management for
continuation of service
What Kind of Project?
Select Project Type:
What Kind of Project?
Confirmation Notice:
The PI information can be updated at any time via:
Project Setup -> Modify project title, purpose, etc.
Data Entry Options
Via Project
SelectSetup
Collection
tab, you
Format:
can enable
longitudinal data collection or surveys:
Data Entry Collection Format
• Classic Data Collection
 Data collection will be performed once per
subject
• Longitudinal/Repeating Collection
 For collecting the same data multiple times
per subject
 Also has optional scheduling capabilities via
project calendar
Navigation
Pane
Navigation Pane and Work Area
Center
Work
Area
Accessing Online Designer
Data Collection Instruments
Add, modify, rename, delete, and change the
order of existing forms
Hiding the Navigation Pane
Clicking on
bar again
restores
navigation
pane
Clicking on
bar hides
navigation
pane
Hover on
the bar
until the
cursor
changes
Study ID: A Record Handle
The Study ID stores the unique identifier (e.g.
MRN, SSN, email address, etc.) for each record
(similar to a row in a spreadsheet). It becomes
the handle by which data is associated with a
specific participant.
Study ID: Requirements
• Should not be deleted
• Must be first field in the first form
• Variable can be renamed but only
before data collection begins
• Study ID values must be unique
Online Designer Operations
Online Designer enables
easy, interactive creation
of form fields.
The icons identify what
operations can be
performed on each field.
Copying a Field
The copy option duplicates all the field
characteristics except the variable name
Copy Verification Dialog
After pressing the copy icon, the
dialog above is displayed to
verify the operation.
Editing a Field
The edit option enables the modification
of all the attributes of a field.
Defining Field Type and Label
Field Types
A
description
regarding
most of
the
REDCap
Field Types
are listed
on the
ICTS Wiki
page.
Defining the Field Attributes
• Variable Name
 Data column handle
• Validation
 Field type constraint
• Required
 Mandatory field
• Identifier
 Mark identified data
• Custom Alignment
 Response arrangement
• Field Note
 Additional field text
Variable Name: A Data Handle
The handle associated with data. Similar
to a spreadsheet column name. Follow
the rules for a variable.
Variable Name: Requirements
• Should be descriptive (not a1, b2, etc.). The name is
how the analysis data is referenced.
• Must begin with an alpha character (e.g. A-Z).
• May contain only the characters A-Z, 0-9, and the
underscore (no spaces, punctuation, special characters
or symbols).
• Should be less than 26 characters (due to risk of
truncation in a statistical analysis package).
• Must be unique across all forms.
Text Field Validation
Restrict text input in order to catch data
entry errors before form submission
(strongly recommended).
Text Field Validation Types
Improves data
integrity by
verifying field
value upon
input. Helps
prevent
invalid entry
prior to form
submission.
Invalid Text Field Dialog
A warning
dialog is
displayed if
a text field
has a text
validation
defined and
the value
contains
invalid data.
Invalid Text Field Indicator
Invalid text is indicated by displaying the
string in bold font along with a red underline
in the text box of a validated text field.
16
Required Field
Inform user that field is required.
Required Field Form Display
Required fields are indicated with the string:
* must provide value
The label is displayed in a red font below the field
label on the input form.
Required Field Dialog
A warning
dialog is
displayed
if a
required
field is left
blank.
Identifier Field
Fields that reveal information regarding the patient’s
identity may need to be marked as an “Identifier”.
These fields can then be excluded so “de-identified”
data can be exported for analysis. Examples include:
first and last name, email, or any other information
that can be traced to a specific individual.
Custom Alignment
Custom Alignment controls the position
and orientation of the responses on the
data entry form.
17
Field Note
The field note allows you to place text below the
form control in order to provide additional
information or instruction to the participant.
Adding a Field
Inserting a New Field
Adding a Matrix of Fields
Inserting a New Field Matrix
Matrix of Fields Results
Edit Field
Matrix Dialog
Resulting
Field Matrix
Inserting a New Field
• Select Field Type
• Enter Field Label (question or data
value prompt)
• Specify Variable Name
Insert a Second Field
Choice Values
If choice
values are not
specified,
they are
defined
automatically
Choices (Radio, Drop Down, Check)
An integer value is assigned to each item
Same Choices, Different Field Types
Changing the field type results in
different form controls
Radio Buttons
Drop-down List
Checkboxes
Creating a Conditional Field
Branching logic can be used to show (or hide)
fields that meet a certain condition
Using Advanced Branching Logic
Conditional fields can be created by
specifying the variable and value of the
field that makes the condition true
Creating a Conditional Field
Alternatively, the Drag-N-Drop
Logic Builder makes defining
the condition easier
Starting Data Collection
In order to create a new
record, the form that
contains the Study ID
must be entered first.
The Data Collection
section in the
navigation pane, lists
the forms (also called
instruments) that help
organize data
retrieved by the
project.
Entering a New Study ID
• A new record is created
when a non-existing
identifier is entered on
the first page to the data
collection interface. Press
“Enter” or “Tab” key to
submit the data.
• If the record already
exists, that Study ID
is retrieved.
Using an Existing Study ID
An existing Study ID can also be selected
from the appropriate dropdown list on
the first page of the data collection
interface.
Generating Reports
Report Builder allows you to create
simple reports.
Displaying Reports
The reports can be used to display the
data and navigate to specific records.
Exporting Data
The reports can be used to display the
data and navigate to specific records.
User Rights and Permissions
Allows you to grant a user full or partial
access to the database
Adding a New User
A new user can be added to the
database by entering their HawkID.
Granting User Privileges
Define user’s access
rights:
• Identifier Data visibility
• Grant privileges to other
users (Note: Observe
caution in granting
“User Rights” to others)
• Allow/Deny other’s
access to project
specifics
Record Locking Privileges
An entire form can be locked which
prevents modification of any record.
Record Privileges
Use caution granting the privilege to create,
rename, and delete records to others.
By default
even the
project owner
does not have
“Delete or
Rename
Records”
access.
Data Entry Rights
Data entry rights are granted on a per
form basis.
Data Entry Rights
Once a user is added a project, they are sent
an email notifying them that they have
access.
Email is sent only if user
has previously logged in.
User Rights View
User rights can
be modified by
clicking on the
HawkID link
Or by selecting the
HawkID from the
dropdown list
Deleting a REDCap Project
The procedure for deleting a project
(which includes all the forms and the
data):
1. Select the project
2. Click “Other Functionality” tab
3. Press “Delete the project” push button
Deleting a Project (continued)
4. Type word “delete” in the dialog text box.
5. Click “Ok” on the confirmation dialog.
REDCap Documentation
• Training within REDCap:
31
 FAQs (Help & FAQ Tab):
https://redcap.icts.uiowa.edu/redcap/ind
ex.php?action=help
 Video (Training Resources Tab):
https://redcap.icts.uiowa.edu/redcap/ind
ex.php?action=training
• Local REDCap documentation:
https://icts.uiowa.edu/confluence/display/
REDCapDocs/REDCap
http://icts.uiowa.edu/content/redcap-faqs
32
REDCap Newsletter
Monthly REDCap Newsletter






Upcoming Training
Helpful Tips
New REDCap Functionality
Frequently Asked Questions (and answers)
Unique Uses of REDCap
Archive of Previous Articles
 Newsletter Wiki Page:
https://www.icts.uiowa.edu/confluence/display/
REDCapDocs/REDCap+Newsletter
 REDCap LISTSERV Subscription:
https://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=R
EDCAP&A=1
Questions?
icts-jira-rc@uiowa.edu