Blumenberg Cauane, Barros Aluísio J D
Cauane Blumenberg, Postgraduate Programme in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil, 1160 Marechal Deodoro St. - 3rd floor, Pelotas, RS, 96020-220, Brazil, Phone: +55 53 32841300, Email:
Appl Clin Inform. 2016 Jul 13;7(3):672-81. doi: 10.4338/ACI-2016-02-RA-0028.
This paper describes the use of Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to conduct one of the follow-up waves of the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort. The aim is to point out the advantages and limitations of using this electronic data capture environment to collect data and control every step of a longitudinal epidemiological research, specially in terms of time savings and data quality.
We used REDCap as the main tool to support the conduction of a birth cohort follow-up. By exploiting several REDCap features, we managed to schedule assessments, collect data, and control the study workflow. To enhance data quality, we developed specific reports and field validations to depict inconsistencies in real time.
Using REDCap it was possible to investigate more variables without significant increases on the data collection time, when comparing to a previous birth cohort follow-up. In addition, better data quality was achieved since negligible out of range errors and no validation or missing inconsistencies were identified after applying over 7,000 interviews.
Adopting electronic data capture solutions, such as REDCap, in epidemiological research can bring several advantages over traditional paper-based data collection methods. In favor of improving their features, more research groups should migrate from paper to electronic-based epidemiological research.
本文描述了使用研究电子数据采集（REDCap）来开展2004年佩洛塔斯出生队列研究的一次随访。目的是指出使用这种电子数据采集环境来收集数据并控制纵向流行病学研究的每一步的优点和局限性，特别是在节省时间和数据质量方面。
我们使用REDCap作为支持出生队列随访开展的主要工具。通过利用REDCap的几个功能，我们成功安排了评估、收集了数据并控制了研究工作流程。为提高数据质量，我们开发了特定报告和字段验证以实时描述不一致情况。
与之前的出生队列随访相比，使用REDCap能够在不显著增加数据收集时间的情况下研究更多变量。此外，在进行了7000多次访谈后，由于未发现可忽略不计的超出范围错误且未发现验证或缺失不一致情况，因此实现了更好的数据质量。
在流行病学研究中采用电子数据采集解决方案，如REDCap，相对于传统的纸质数据收集方法可带来诸多优势。为了改进其功能，更多研究团队应从纸质流行病学研究转向电子流行病学研究。
