REDCap

Research Electronic Data Capture

REDCap is a secure, web-based application for building and managing online surveys and databases. REDCap’s easy design environment allows you to quickly create web-based databases and data capture forms with special features like ad-hoc reporting and scheduling

Important Update: September 2024 Heading link

The UIC REDCap server’s data load capacity has been filled due to growing activity since the system was installed in 2010.  We are, therefore, moving forward with a new logging data retention policy effective September 29, 2024.

Each REDCap project’s activities are recorded and saved in Logging (more info here). The new retention plan will remove logging data on events that occurred at least six years ago. Moving forward, logging data will be saved for six years and then deleted on a rolling basis.

This new policy applies only to logging data. Project metadata and records will not be affected.

This policy aligns with the general HIPAA data retention standard. According to 45 CFR § 164.530, “the retention period is six years from the creation of the document or date when it was last in effect, whichever is later” (HIPAA Retention Requirements by Steve Alder, 2024, The HIPAA Journal. Link).

If you want to save the log of past events (6 years +), please visit the Logging page within your REDCap project and export the data as a CSV to your secure device (instructions here).

This change will improve the REDCap server’s performance when running reports against the logs and shorten downtime when we transition to the next generation of servers.

We appreciate your understanding of this new policy in advance. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at REDCAPIHRP@UIC.EDU.

Related UIC Resources:

REDCap Features Heading link

  • Secure surveys & databases

    Create and design your project rapidly using secure web authentication from your browser- no additional software required

  • Fast and flexible

    Conception to production-level survey/database in less than one day

  • Exportable for analysis

    Export your data to common analysis packages like Microsoft Excel, PDF, SAS, Stata, R, or SPSS

  • Ad hoc reporting

    Create custom queries for generating reports to view or download

  • Scheduling

    Utilize a built-in project calendar and scheduling module for organizing your events and appointments

  • Manage contact lists

    Build a list of email contacts, create custom email invitations, and track who responds

  • Create survey links

    Create a single survey link to email out or post on a website

  • Securely send files

    Using ‘Send-It’, upload and send files to multiple recipients, including existing project documents, that are too large for email attachments or that contain sensitive data

  • Print/PDF friendly

    Generate a print-friendly PDF version of your forms and/or  surveys for easy data collection offline

  • REDCap API

    Have external applications connect to REDCap remotely in a programmatic or automated fashion

  • Advanced Features

    Auto-validation, calculated fields, file uploading, branching/skip logic, and survey stop actions

REDCap 911 Heading link

The REDCap site is designed to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, in the unlikely event of unforeseen network issues, we recommend taking one of the following proactive steps to ensure uninterrupted data collection:

  1. Consider backing up and printing PDF versions of your data collection forms.
  2. Install and set up the REDCap Mobile App. This app allows you to collect data offline, providing an efficient solution even when a network connection is not available. For guidance on the Mobile App, visit the following page: https://ccts-bsc.netlify.app/redcap/mobile-app/.

Learn more about REDCap at UIC