Table 2 Checklist of desirable features for research data management systems[26]

1

Implement security measures and protocols that prohibit unauthorised access to the study and data.

2

Provide adequate audit trail to ensure that all changes pertaining to the conduct of the trial are well documented.

3

Incorporate features to encourage the consistent use of clinical terminology and to alert users that data is out of range.

4

Provide suitable safeguards to isolate identifiable information from the study and ensure that retrieved data regarding each subject is only attributable to that subject.

5

Provide satisfactory backup and recovery protocols to guard against data loss.

6

Provide support for several types of fields (such as dates, text, numerical values) and in various formats (such as files, x-ray images).

7

Facilitate data extraction and the ability to swiftly generate reports.

8

Uphold the cost effectiveness of the system.

9

Endorse minimal development efforts

10

Advocate an advantageous type of licensing.

11

Promote adherence to industry standards, such as the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC)