Summary
This case study documents the implementation and adoption pathway of the REDCap electronic data capture system at the University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Sciences from 2013 to 2021. The authors describe multi-level strategies—including organisational leadership, technical infrastructure, staff training, annual symposia, and mentorship from Vanderbilt University—that collectively drove user account growth from 129 to 3447 over the eight-year period. The experience offers pragmatic lessons for other resource-constrained health systems seeking to transition from paper-based to digital clinical record management.
UK applicability
The institutional strategies documented here—particularly top-down governance support, accessible training delivery, and ongoing mentorship—are broadly transferable to UK NHS settings or university medical centres exploring REDCap implementation. However, the study's focus on overcoming resource constraints specific to South African public health infrastructure may have limited direct applicability to better-resourced UK systems.
Key measures
Number of active REDCap user accounts (2013 vs 2021); institutional adoption strategies implemented; organisational and technical support mechanisms
Outcomes reported
The study described institutional strategies deployed over 2013–2021 to support adoption of the REDCap electronic data capture system at a South African academic health sciences faculty. Active user accounts increased from 129 to 3447 during this period, demonstrating measurable growth in system uptake.
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