REDCapDM: An R package with a set of data management tools for a REDCap project

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2024 Mar 1;24(1):55. doi: 10.1186/s12874-024-02178-6.

Abstract

Background: Research Electronic Data CAPture (REDCap) is a web application for creating and managing online surveys and databases. Clinical data management is an essential process before performing any statistical analysis to ensure the quality and reliability of study information. Processing REDCap data in R can be complex and often benefits from automation. While there are several R packages available for specific tasks, none offer an expansive approach to data management.

Results: The REDCapDM is an R package for accessing and managing REDCap data. It imports data from REDCap to R using either an API connection or the files in R format exported directly from REDCap. It has several functions for data processing and transformation, and it helps to generate and manage queries to clarify or resolve discrepancies found in the data.

Conclusion: The REDCapDM package is a valuable tool for data scientists and clinical data managers who use REDCap and R. It assists in tasks such as importing, processing, and quality-checking data from their research studies.

Keywords: Clinical data management; Electronic data capture; Query; R; REDCap.

MeSH terms

  • Data Management*
  • Humans
  • Records
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Software*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires