Overview
i2b2 allows researchers to submit requests to extract patient-level data, including patient identifiers (with IRB approval). While the CRI team can fulfill more complex data extractions, i2b2 provides a quick, convenient method for simple data request extraction.
Researchers are responsible for building queries to identify eligible patients to be included in the data extraction.
All variables available in i2b2 can be included as part of the data extraction. Please refer to the data dictionary for more information on the variables available in i2b2.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions for submitting an i2b2 data request.
1. Build a query to identify patients that meet your criteria and click 'Run Query'.
2. A pop-up window will appear. You may wish to name your query something you can easily recognize before running the query. Make sure to select 'Patient Set' and then click 'OK' to run your query.
3. Once your query is done running, export your query results in PDF format to save for your records and to upload to your IRB protocol. To export results, click on Query Report and then Print Report.
4. Once your query is done running, you can begin the data request submission process. Click on Analysis Tools at the top of the workspace.
5. Click on "Select a plugin to load"
6. Click on "Project Request"
7. The data request submission form should now appear. Enter a title for your project and select the type of approval applicable to your request. Refer to the diagram below to assist you in selecting the correct type of approval.
Determining Type of Approval
8. Once you select the type of approval, the following additional fields will appear.
9. Under the 'Queries' tab on the left, locate the appropriate query. Click on the query name to expand the folder, then click on the Results folder to expand it
10. Click and drag the Patient Set to the 'Cases' on the project request form
11. Once the patient cohort has been defined, the next step is to specify the data elements/variables you would like to extract for each patient. Use the Terms and/or Find Terms tabs to locate variables of interest. Click and drag the variables you would like to include or exclude to the 'Concepts'
12. If your IRB permits, patient identifiers (such as MRN, Patient Name, etc) are available for extraction. To add identifiers to your concept list, click on Identifying Information Requiring IRB Approval. In this example, we will request patient MRNs. Click and drag 'Ident - Medical Record Number' to the Concepts.
13. Once you have added all desired concepts, click Submit Query. Note that you cannot edit this form after it is submitted, so be sure to double check everything before submission.
14. You will be re-directed to the "View Results" tab with a Clinical Data Request Number. Please email cri@usc.edu with this number to initiate your data request.
