Use the validation tool to help make your data cleaner from the start
The REDCap Validation tool allows you to specify that field value should be a number, integer, date in a particular format, email address, etc… You can find Validation options in the "Edit field" options fot each field.
Tag fields that contain identifying information
Tag fields containing PII (personally identifiable information) as an identifier* field:
In the Online Designer, you can find this option in the "Edit Field" box.
In the Data Dictionary, you can place a ‘Y’ in column K
*Need examples of what counts as identifying information? Here's a list of identifiers you must remove from HIPAA-protected data before sharing