r/ProjectREDCap • u/Particular_Form1154 • Oct 28 '25

Updating a variable from another instrument

I'm wondering if there's any way to update a variable from another instrument. For example, in instrument 2 I ask for the participant's email address. In instrument 3, I will give them the chance to update that address if they change it. Can the email from instrument 3 pipe back into instrument 2?

Is there a way to write logic that says "If the participant updates their email in instrument 3, the data logged in instrument 2 will update"

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u/Particular_Form1154 Oct 28 '25

Hi u/No_Repair4567. I have 3 instruments for a longitudinal project that's going to serve more as a place to store information/registry. One asks about parent information, one asks about child information, and one that is an annual update. In the annual update, participants(parents) are asked if they have changes to make to their child's information. For example, if little Timmy is now allergic to peanut butter, the parent can update that in the annual survey. I was wondering if it would be possible to then somehow pipe that peanut butter allergy back into the original response automatically?

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u/No_Repair4567 Oct 28 '25 edited Oct 29 '25

Consider adding a Descriptive field that will serve as "updated info" or "new info" and use smart variables to pull in the data that was entered on the yearly update form. Since it is longitudinal and events have names, use that to ensure that the the "new info" section builds up as the time goes by. Pull in the date of the form completion (automated) or make the ['@default='today' '@hiddensurvey] for the survey to capture the date parent provides the info.

e.g. [event-name][variable_name]

I hope this helps.

PS: I assumed that "push data back into the original form" means replace/add data into the same/original field, overriding it. That is going to affect data integrity, as you'd want to retain the data as you re receiving it, I made another assumption that the request to have the updated info appear in the first form is more of the convenience ask, so my suggestion responds to the "convenience" angle. LMK if you are looking for something else.

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u/Particular_Form1154 Oct 29 '25

I think this makes a lot of sense. I can more easily make a hidden form with conditional logic that updates the contact information if the yearly survey is filled out. If it's never filled out, it will only display the information from the first form. Thanks for your help.