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Global Health Econ Sustain Utilizing REDCap in a cardiac rehabilitation service

is a freely available, secure online database building, and The study data were collected from paper records
management platform created at Vanderbilt University to and registered on the REDCap platform, which is hosted
offer this support (Harris et al., 2019). It serves multiple at the Institute of Cardiology. The REDCap project was
purposes, from aiding in patient assessment to facilitating divided into instruments composed of collection forms.
data collection and storage, quality monitoring, and The variable structure in the database includes fields for
research. In addition, it generates automatic reports that open data, such as text or numbers, as well as multiple-
assist in documenting patient care (Harris et al., 2009). choice and single-choice fields. Notes were used below
certain fields to guide/standardize the collected variables.
The clinical relevance of this study lies in its Some variables were configured as mandatory fields to
documentation of CVD prevention and control actions avoid missing data (except variables that did not apply to
in a CR program, utilizing the REDCap platform instead all patients). Administrative data, clinical history, physical
of traditional paper records. This approach assists in assessment, and functional tests were addressed during
disseminating data while ensuring improved organization, both the initial assessment and reassessments. The paper
standardization, and data security, in compliance with the forms served as a model for creating the online database.
General Data Protection Law, which protects individuals’
fundamental rights of freedom and privacy rights. The analysis of health records commenced after
receiving project approval from the Research Ethics
Consequently, our aim was to build an electronic Committee (CEP) of the Institute of Cardiology, facilitated
database on the REDCap platform and implement electronic through the Brazil Platform (Plataforma Brasil), under
registration as an alternative to paper records. This shift number CAAE 54989922.4.0000.5333. Participants were
aimed to enhance the organization, standardization, and informed of all study methodological procedures and
security of patient follow-up data within CR. In addition, provided informed consent before the collection, in
our study sought to delineate the clinical profile of patients accordance with Resolution No. 466/12 and the General
attending a prominent cardiovascular rehabilitation center Data Protection Law (2018).
in southern Brazil.
2.2. Statistical analysis
2. Methods
The data are presented using descriptive statistics, exported
2.1. Procedures from REDCap to Microsoft Excel 2019 version 2210.
®
®
This study adopted a prospective cohort study. The sample Continuous variables are expressed as mean and standard
consisted of paper records from patients enrolled in the deviation for those with a normal distribution or as median
CR program at the Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic and 25 – 75 percentiles. Categorical variables are described
Rehabilitation Center of the Institute of Cardiology in with absolute (n) and relative (%) numbers.
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Each patient attended two 3. Results
sessions of CR per week until completing a thirty-day
cycle, after which they could be renewed for a new cycle or 3.1. Electronic health record implementation
be discharged based on clinical need and the feasibility of For the implementation of the rehabilitation patient
continuing participation in the program. registry, the following steps were taken: (i) initial meeting
All paper records of rehabilitation center patients of the rehabilitation center physiotherapists to reorganize
who consented to the use of their data in the study were and update the data collection forms; (ii) creation of
included. Health records of patients who were evaluated online collection forms in REDCap; (iii) team training
but did not fit the program’s eligibility criteria were to standardize assessments and records in the new form;
excluded. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients with and (iv) commencement of record keeping in the online
cardiopulmonary and metabolic diseases whose health database.
records were linked to the Institute of Cardiology and the The database was created with four longitudinal
public health system, who possessed medical clearance, follow-up forms: (i) identification data, comprising 12
and who resided in Porto Alegre or the metropolitan input fields; (ii) clinical data, comprising 35 input fields;
region. Patients with disease instability, major motor/ (iii) physical examination, comprising 30 input fields; and
neurological/cognitive limitations, living three or more (iv) exercise prescription, comprising 6 input fields. The
hours away from the rehabilitation center, or for whom latter two were repeated over time whenever the patient
it was impossible to perform the initial exercise test were started a new cycle, that is, every 30 sessions unless
excluded; the latter condition was considered a relative discharged from the program. From April to September
exclusion condition. 2022, 75 patients were registered.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1755