Research Support/Research Management Team (RMT)

The Research Management Team (RMT) fills the need for trained, experienced, readily available staffing on research projects at the School of Nursing. Through a funding partnership with the Duke Translational Medicine Institute (DTMI) and individual grants, the RMT also works on projects with investigators external to DUSON.

The RMT consists of personnel trained in research procedures and operations. RMT staff are available for assignment to research projects on a short or long-term basis. The RMT primarily works with researchers who need to hire less than 1.0 FTE for a particular job.

Back Row: Justin Levens, Teresa Baker, Shelly Epps, Jeff Hawley; Front Row: Denise Snyder, Carolyne Whiting, John Boling, Mindy Kash, Hal Beresford, Nancy Hassell

Research Management Services

RMT staff members are trained to conduct activities usually performed by research assistants, data technicians, data managers, programmers, research analysts and clinical research coordinators. Possibilities range from database building and data entry to subject recruitment, tracking and interviewing.

Data Management Services

The data management team can help investigators and project managers create a data management plan that takes into account the variables needed to measure project outcomes, and often continue to work with the research team to implement the work plan. The RMT data managers are skilled in designing relational databases, then implementing them in Microsoft (MS) Access and REDCap for research or administrative purposes. RMT will work with your study team and statistician in order to make sure you receive the data as expected after data collection.

• MS Access, part of the Microsoft Office Suite, allows users to create highly customized relational databases. All RMT-designed databases feature simple user interfaces, built-in data validation and table structures that are easy to understand. More complex databases have included features such as self-updating phone call lists and a built-in double-data entry module. Access is an excellent tool for tracking on research projects where a one-to-many relationship streamlines the day-to-day process.
• FileMaker Pro, must purchase license for use, is cross-platform (Windows/Mac) relational database software. It also allows users to create highly customized data entry form and tracking systems.
• REDCap is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies, providing: 1) an intuitive interface for validated data entry; 2) audit trails for tracking data manipulation and export procedures; 3) automated export procedures for seamless data downloads to common statistical packages; and 4) procedures for importing data from external sources. REDCap is ideal for data collection on small-to-medium research projects and the web interface allows researchers to more easily conduct multi-site projects.

To learn more about RMT services or to receive a cost estimation for your project, please contact Shelly Epps (919) 668-2349; shelly.epps@duke.edu.

Learn more about Data Management and Statistical Partnerships

Projects

Below are examples of a few studies that RMT has served.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Primary Investigator: Kevin Weinfurt, PhD DCRI

• Recruited over 2000 study participants using a mailed-method approach
• Administered telephone and web surveys
• Constructed multiple MS Access databases to manage study data
• Conducted qualitative data collection through cognitive interviews

Ovarian Cancer Study
Primary Investigator: Joellen Schildkraut, PhD, Patricia Moorman, PhD - Cancer Control

• Programmed extensive computer assisted telephone intervention (CATI) using CfMC software for large, epidemiologic study

Diabetes in Second Life
Primary Investigator: Constance Johnson, PhD, RN – School of Nursing

• Aided in development of virtual island in Second Life; technological support for participant avatar development; regulatory (IRB) support; consenting and tracking of study participants
• Heat mapped participant movement through site; developed REDCap survey for emailed study response collection at multiple timepoints
• Transcribed recorded conversations

Urogynecology Surgical Follow-up
Primary Investigator: Anthony Visco, MD - Urogynecology

• Programmed REDCap Survey for on-site data intake collection and emailed post-surgery collection; developed FileMaker Pro interface for cross-platform tracking of survey responses

Cascade Iatrogenesis
Primary Investigator: Deirdre Thornlow, PhD, RN – School of Nursing

• Helped schedule and facilitate multiple focus groups; transcription of recorded interviews; Atlas coding of transcripts
• Manual chart abstraction via eBrowser; automated EMR abstraction using DEDUCE platform
• Developed REDCap database for variables from DEDUCE export and manual chart abstraction

Duke Cardio-Oncology Lab
Primary Investigator: Lee Jones, PhD – Radiation Oncology

• Developed data entry platforms using REDCap for the collection of various survey, laboratory and exercise results
• Developed Access database for patient time point tracking in active studies and any future studies