3355 The CTSA Institutional website: A higher purpose - Researcher use of institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) website content to assess or promote NCATS CTSA Program Goals.
Authors: Tafuto Barbara Ann 
Published: March 2019

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The objective of this research was to identify and evaluate published research articles that highlight the use of CTSA institutional websites as a research tool or data source for translational science research. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A multifaceted systematic search process was engaged for this literature review process using standard literature database searching, digital journal database searching, and pearl growing. All U.S. based studies and reports from 2006 through the present that addressed the application of websites of CTSA institutions for translational science purposes were included in this review. Identified articles were collected, organized, and analyzed using an excel spreadsheet. There were 2 different data collection and organization protocols, one for studies the other for reports. The first data collection protocol was for identified studies that used individual CTSA Institutional websites as a data source for a research topic. The organization processes for each relevant study article included a customized data extraction process that looked to identify a standard group of key elements from each study: (1) The study’s NCATS CTSA Goal. (2) The type of data searched in the CTSA institutional website. (3) The number of CTSA institutional websites searched. (4) The number of sites that had the needed data. (6) The outcomes reported from the research. The second data collection protocol was for identified reports that referenced single CTSA Institutional websites as performing a specific translational informatics functionality either as a portal to Clinical and Translational Science Award tools and resources or as a direct information source. The organizational process for each relevant report article also included a customized data extraction process that looked to identify a standard group of key elements from each report: (1) NCATS / CTSA Goal (2) Tool or Functionality Promoted (3) Description (4) Website used as portal or direct tool. (5) Target Audience. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The studies were summarized using the standard group of key elements identified for data extraction and summarized in a table. In 5 of the 6 studies, researchers relied on CTSA member individual website content to mine necessary data. One (1) of the studies employed a mixed methods approach to data acquisition and only relied on CTSA member individual website content for CTSA institutions that did not respond to a user survey. One (1) study used a survey to learn about CTSA website content rather than review the websites. In 5 of the 6 studies, researchers reviewed individual CTSA websites for the purposes of determining the number or percentages of CTSA institutions had specific data. One (1) study instead reviewed the individual websites to develop a broader picture of what the CTSA Consortium offered as a group. The percentage of CTSA websites that had the needed data of the researchers ranged from 32% to 100%. The median and mean scores for CTSA websites having the needed data was 66% and 66.5% respectively. One study did not provide specific information for assessment. All 6 studies included research that fell within at least 2 categories of the 5 NCATS CTSA Goal topics. The category most investigated was translational research processes where 5 of the 6 studies investigated how CTSA websites looked to improve the quality and efficiency of translational research. Three (3) studies investigated how CTSA’s cultivated and trained the clinical and translational science workforce. Two (2) studies investigated how CTSA’s engaged patients and communities in the translational research process. Two (2) studies investigated how CTSA’s promoted the integration of underserved populations. One (1) study investigated ways the CTSA’s used their websites to advance the use of cutting-edge informatics. The outcomes reported included (1) the percentage CTSA individual websites that provided information regarding patient recruitment. (2) A list of generic services provided across the CTSA Individual website medium. (3) The number of CTSA individual website education and training programs. (4) The number and quality of informed consent forms presented online. (5) Investigational New Drug (IND) / Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) training methods for CTSA Investigators. (6) The percentage of KL2 Awards used by Child Health Investigators at CTSA Institutions. The reports (rn=9) were also summarized using the standard group of key elements identified for data extraction and summarized in a table. All six articles reported using their Institutional CTSA website as either a portal or a tool to promote clinical and translational science as outlined through NCATS goals. A CTSA website is used as a portal when it provides links to other sites, tools, or programs. A CTSA Website is used as a tool when it provides the functionality within its web design like providing an online application or database, or interactive training pages. In 8 of the 9 articles, authors reported on CTSA institutional website as either a translational informatics portal or providing informatics functionalities. Four (4) of the articles reported the use of their website for engagement, on either the collaborator or patient level, such as advocacy, education, or subject enrollment. Two (2) articles reported the use of their CTSA website for the cultivation and training of a clinical and translational science workforce. Four (4) articles reported on the use of their CTSA website for the purposes of increasing the quality and efficiency of translational research. None of the articles reported how their sites were used to promote the integration of underserved populations. All the reports identified a CTSA institutional website as a tool to leverage or disseminate CTSA capabilities and functionality. The access point and or warehousing of these capabilities was the CTSA institutional website. The target audience for these publications included researchers, clinical research administrators, IT programmers, community collaborators, and research subjects. The articles that reported on the use of CTSA institutional websites for clinical and translational functionality included topics such as: (1) the introduction of an informatics tool that searches clinical notes to identify clinical data for research. (2) the promotion of an online research subject advocacy program. (3) the introduction of an informatics tool portal that allows researchers flexible, efficient and effective means of collaboration and interaction with data. (4) the promotion of a team development project tool. (5) the introduction of a research participant registry and study promotion and education tool. (6) the promotion of an independent informatics tool registry that could connect to all CTSA websites. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This research shows that CTSA institutional website functionality and content contributes to the CTSA body of research and the advancement NIH translational science goals.