Please note: The material in this page is intended to: 1) describe OHSU's model of support and OCTRI operations, and 2) supplement the help material integrated into REDCap itself. If you are interested in learning more about a specific this feature, check REDCap for a video, check the REDCap FAQ, and review the documentation in REDCap.


Description

"MLM" refers to a complete implementation of the Multi-Language Management (MLM) tool that supports research participants taking a survey in English or Spanish, depending on their preference, and renders, in accordance with their preference, the REDCap system generated participant facing messaging and interface components, such as button text and pop-up alerts, etc. 

Note, the MLM tool does not translate the questions or other study materials that make up the content of a survey. The study team obtains Spanish translations for these materials, builds their surveys in English, and then enters their Spanish translations, field by field into the MLM tool.

Feature Type

Optional module

Fees/Costs

We are currently piloting the full implementation of the MLM. There are charges to participate in the pilot, with a minimum charge of $1000 to cover the costs of the REDCap Team's effort for help configuring the tool, and providing instruction, guidance and support to the project builder.

Eligible Projects/Project Status Dependency

  • MLM is available for research projects using the Standard Service for research support track.
    • The MLM is not available for non-research projects to use.
    • The MLM is not available for research projects using the Self Service for research support track.

  • Projects with surveys built in English for which the study team has:

    • Obtained or will obtain Spanish translations  
      - OR -
    • Approved translated Spanish versions of the validated survey instruments they have permission to use.
  • Project Status at setup = Development
    • Request to enable MLM while building and testing the project.
    • Because of the complexity of configuring and validating the tool, setting up the MLM in project in production is not supported.

Request Process

If you're interested in participating in the pilot, please contact the REDCap Team at redcap@ohsu.edu.

REDCap Skills, Experience, Knowledge

  • Basics training completed.

  • Survey training completed.

  • Extensive experience building REDCap survey projects.

  • Applying the principle of least privilege to user management.

Installation, Configuration and Implementation


Support Track Availability

Standard Service for Research

This is advanced or optional functionality that can only be enabled or installed by a REDCap admin and requires special instruction & support.

Multi-Language Management (MLM) Homepage



Building Considerations

The full implementation of the MLM tool trades off complexifying the effort involved in setting up a project in exchange for streamlining the effort to analyze the data collected.

Build: With a full MLM implementation there is a significant additional burden to both 1) learn the complexities of how to use the MLM tool to its full capacity, and 2) configure and test the MLM setup for the project, which makes the MLM Lite best suited for:

  • Builders with extensive experience setting up REDCap survey projects
  • Builders who are not bandwidth constrained in allocating time and learning effort to setting up and managing a REDCap project

Analysis: Because with this implementation the study team only builds one version each survey, there are no duplicates of survey variables to complicate reconciling Spanish and English responses.

Obtaining Translations

The MLM tool does not translate a survey into Spanish, i.e. the tool does not translate questions or other components, such as embedded image, that make make of the content of a survey. The study team is responsible for obtaining Spanish translations of their surveys and survey related materials by working with OHSU translation services and/or obtaining translated Spanish versions of the validated survey instruments they have permission to use in their project.

User Management

Every user on the project who has permission to the Project Design and Setup user right will have access to the MLM tool via the inclusion of a Multi-Language Management link in the project's left-hand navigation menu  However, once the REDCap Team enables and configures the MLM tool for use for a project, no other action is needed, and any modifications a project user makes to the MLM setting risks invalidating the MLM functionality.

Because REDCap software does not have a specific MLM user right, it is critical that the project point person 1) carefully manage assigning permissions to the Project Design and Setup user right by applying the principle of least privilege when adding users and assigning permissions, 2) include the MLM terms of use in onboarding new users about who are assigned the Project Design and Setup user right.

Learning Curve

In many ways, the MLM tools is like a separate application embedded into and overlaid on top of the tools in Online Designer. MLM tool has it's own conventions, as well as some peculiarities, and at times confusing documentation. The learning curve is not trivial, to be successful a builder will need to be able to devote significant time to learning and working with the tool.

Setup Overview

At a high level, the study team builds all their surveys in English, gathers their Spanish translations, and then gets works with REDCap Team to get 1) training to enter their translations in the MLM tool field by field, survey setting by survey setting, and automated invitation message by automated invitation message, and 2) help configuring the project to use the MLM tool to capture and manage the participant's language preference, and 3) assistance validating the setup of the MLM tool in their project.

The process involves a handful of steps, listed below, each step requires significant effort, both in terms of time and in learning to use the tool, which has its own conventions and peculiarities.

Survey Related System Messaging & Embedded Functionality Translated by the MLM Tool

  • All buttons, such as Next page, Previous page, Submit, Save & Return, Close survey, Download, Today, Now, etc.

  • All pop-up alerts, such as response required, wrong type of data entered in a field, etc. 

  • All inline alerts, such as this field required, download PDF of survey, etc.

  • All embedded tools, such as  reset link (for radio buttons), increase or decrease font-size, queue link, save & return page etc.

  • The certification statement checkbox for e-consent surveys that require the participant to sign the consent by entering their first and last name.

  • Survey Queue components a participant interacts with.

  • Survey Login components a participant interacts with.

Terms of Use

  • The REDCap Team enables the MLM tool and configures the tool for use for the project.

    • Project users modifying any MLM settings risks invalidating functionality and violates the terms of use for the MLM.

    • Charges would apply for help from the REDCap Team to reconfigure the MLM.

  • The translations for survey messaging and survey tools provided by the MLM tool cannot be modified.

  • The study team is responsible for obtaining:

    • Translations for their participant surveys from Translation Services or already published translated versions of validated survey instruments.

    • Translations of participant facing messages from Translation Services.

    • IRB approval for their translated materials.

  • All project users with permission to Project Design  and Setup user rights can access to the MLM module.

    • The study team is responsible for onboarding and training users regarding the terms of use of for the MLM tool.