OpenMRS as a backend for multi-centric clinical research studies

Details

Supervisors

Jodogne, Sébastien

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences informatiques, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enMulti-centric clinical research is essential for generating robust medical evidence. But it faces obstacles in certain resource-constrained environments. While Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems like REDCap are standard in well-resourced settings, their deployment alongside existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems implies infrastructure costs, maintenance burdens, and the complexity of managing parallel systems. OpenMRS, a widely adopted open-source EHR platform in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, currently lacks native support for standardized research data collection. This master's thesis presents the design and implementation of "Fhirquestionnaires," an OpenMRS module that integrates standardized, FHIR-compliant research data collection natively within the OpenMRS ecosystem. By leveraging the "Questionnaire" and "QuestionnaireResponse" HL7 FHIR resources, the module enables research coordinators to create, import, and distribute structured research questionnaires without requiring external infrastructure. Furthermore, it exposes a RESTful interoperability API based on HAPI FHIR, allowing seamless data exchange with third-party systems. An end-to-end proof of concept demonstrates the module's capability to support the full lifecycle of a multi-centric study, from questionnaire design at a coordinating centre to distributed data collection and aggregated export. By eliminating the need for separate EDC systems, this work offers an open-source solution that enhances data quality and interoperability for clinical research in resource-limited settings, contributing to a more equitable global research infrastructure.