REDCap Software Engineering
We are excited to announce the continued growth of the Biomedical Informatics Core's (BMIC) software engineering capability, particularly in the realm of the REDCap External Module (EM) ecosystem. As part of the University of Utah's Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the BMIC is deeply involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the core REDCap application, as well as the development of custom external modules that extend the capability of the REDCap application[1]. By leveraging the collaborative expertise of the BMIC team and with early involvement in the software development process, we have consistently delivered robust and generalized external modules that offer substantial value to the greater university community. Using the External Module framework the BMIC software engineering team can build and deploy custom functionality that REDCap may not currently offer.
What are External Modules?
REDCap, at it’s core, is an application designed and developed for data collection, both with data entry and surveys sent directly to participants. As such, the vast majority of its functionality is geared towards this aspect of research studies. However, there are other aspects, such as data integration, data transformation, and extended business logic that require further software functionalities. This is where External Modules come into the picture.
REDCap External Modules (EMs) are powerful tools that can extend the functionality, behavior, and appearance of the core REDCap application in creative ways[2]. These modules offer a wide range of functionalities that can enhance REDCap projects. Some examples of commonly used EMs include:
- Inline Descriptive Pop-ups: This module allows users to add descriptive pop-ups to field labels, providing additional information or instructions to users without cluttering the interface[3].
- Language Editor: The Language Editor module enables users to customize the text displayed in the REDCap application, allowing for localization and customization of the user interface[3].
- Survey UI Tweaks: This module provides various user interface tweaks and enhancements for REDCap surveys, improving the overall user experience and usability of surveys[3].
In addition to these examples, there are numerous other EMs available that can cater to specific project needs, ranging from data visualization tools to advanced data manipulation functionalities[4][5].
Collaborative Culture
One of the key strengths of the BMIC is its collaborative approach to software development. By working closely with study teams, the BMIC is able to craft custom EMs that are tailored to the specific needs of individual research projects. This early involvement of the BMIC team ensures that the resulting software is not only technically robust, but also aligned with the unique requirements of each study. We believe that this collaborative effort between the study team and the BMIC is crucial in delivering a better product and outcome.
Generalized, reusable solutions
In line with our commitment to excellence, we aspire to create generalized solutions that can benefit the greater university community, as opposed to one-off custom software. This approach not only maximizes the impact of our work, but also fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and reusability. Furthermore, our emphasis on creating generalized external modules has the potential to yield academic papers that can contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of biomedical informatics. By documenting our software development efforts and the impact of the external modules on research outcomes, we aim to share our insights and best practices with the broader academic community.
The Greater REDCap community
The BMIC's commitment to creating generalized solutions is underscored by our active participation in the global REDCap Consortium, which is composed of thousands of institutional partners in over one hundred countries[6]. This collaborative network enables us to stay at the forefront of REDCap development and contribute to the collective expertise that drives the continuous improvement of the platform.
Involve us early!
One of the key advantages of involving the BMIC early in the software development process is the ability to create external modules that are not just tailored for specific studies, but also offer generalized solutions that can benefit a wide range of research projects. This approach ensures that the external modules are technically sound, reusable, and aligned with the best practices in software engineering. It also fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and reusability, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and impactful software ecosystem.
Summary
In summary, the BMIC's software engineering capability, coupled with its collaborative approach and commitment to creating generalized solutions, positions us as a key player in the REDCap External Module ecosystem. We look forward to continuing our work in this space and contributing to the success of research endeavors across the university.
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