BMC Medical Research Methodology (Mar 2024)

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

  • João Carmezim,
  • Pau Satorra,
  • Judith Peñafiel,
  • Esther García-Lerma,
  • Natàlia Pallarès,
  • Naiara Santos,
  • Cristian Tebé

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-024-02178-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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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.

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