Configuring Export Mapping

Export mapping is available for ePRO and eClinRO surveys to allow you to provide custom values for survey questions and answers that will be displayed in the data export.

Using export mappings can help with the following goals:

  • SDTM Compliance: Map survey configuration so that it aligns more closely to SDTM expectations.
  • Consistent Exports: Eliminate end-user formatting that can complicate data analysis.
  • Improved Data Quality: Ensure clean and standardized data for downstream processes.

Mappings can be applied at any point during the study, and the mapping you add will apply to previous versions of the collection including version 1.

If you make only an export mapping change to a survey, the sites are not sent a new version for approval when you send it back through UAT.

Understanding Export Mapping

Mappable Elements

You can map the following elements for exports:

  • Block Headings: The descriptive text for a survey block
  • Block Names: The internal name of the survey block
  • Answer Names: For single and multiple choice questions, the internal name of the answer choice
  • Answer Labels: For single and multiple choice questions, the label of text that is displayed for an answer choice

Mapping Suggestions

To help align your data with SDTM requirements, the system automatically analyzes your survey design and provides mapping suggestions. These suggestions are identified based on potential issues that could lead to non-compliant data.

The system looks for the following issues in its analysis:

  • Block Headings:
    • Contain non-ASCII characters.
    • Exceed 40 characters.
    • Include HTML formatting.
  • Block Names:
    • Exceed 8 characters.
  • Answer Names and Labels:
    • Contain non-ASCII characters.
    • Exceed 200 characters.
    • Include HTML formatting.

If an issue is identified, the mapping suggestions will indicate that we recommend mapping it to an accepted value. This analysis does not require you to fix the issues it identifies. You can choose to fix issues later when you generate reports.

Importing and Exporting Existing Mappings

You can choose to export an existing survey mapping to use for a survey. The following information applies to imported mapping:

  • The survey name in the exported survey mapping file must exactly match the survey name of the survey you are importing it to.
  • The blocks and answers in the exported survey must have been used in at least one version of the survey you are importing to.
  • The mapped values in the file must all be strings.
  • You can update partial mappings for only a subset of your survey elements. To do this, ensure that you only update the mapped strings for the items you want to change in the .JSON file.
  • Any mappings added to a library survey are automatically included when that survey is used in a study.

Understanding Domains

We categorize surveys by instrument type in domains. This guarantees correct and consistent column headings when exporting and grouping the data.

The following SDTM domains are available for survey mapping:

  • QS (Questionnaires). This domain is selected by default.
  • FT (Functional Tests)
  • RS (Clinical Classifications and Disease Response)

If you update the domain, it will be updated for previous versions of the survey too.

Each domain is exported in a separate file for Survey Data reports.

Mapping Exports

  1. In Studio, open the ePRO or eClinRO survey you want to map.
  2. Select the SDTM Domain that the survey will be exported to.
  3. Review the mapping suggestions to identify whether you want to make any changes.
  4. Ensure that the latest version of the survey is saved, and select Manage Mapping.
  5. Select Export Current Mapping. The .JSON file is saved to your device.
  6. Open the downloaded .JSON file in the editor of your choice.
  7. For each mapped parameter, enter the string that you want to be used in exports.
  1. In the ePRO or eClinRO survey, select Manage Mapping.
  2. Add the .JSON file you downloaded above to the Import New Mapping File box.
  3. Review suggestions, and make necessary updates.
  4. Select Save.

The mappings are applied to exports and are kept even if you update the survey to change an element’s name.

Mapped Export Example

The example below displays the updated export mapping that includes the added strings.

In this example, the mappings change the name of q2 to QUEST2 to align with a hypothetical CDISC naming requirement, and the heading is updated to shorten the length and remove HTML. The answers names and labels remain unchanged.

{
 "surveyName" : "SurveyName",
 "blocks" : {
   "q2" : {
     "name" : {
       "source" : "q2",
       "mapped" : "QUEST2"
     },
     "heading" : {
       "source" : "As it applies to the last 7 days <br><br> <b>I feel weak all over</b>",
       "mapped" : "Feel Weak All Over"
     },
     "answers" : {
       "1" : {
         "name" : {
           "source" : "1",
           "mapped" : null
         },
         "answer" : {
           "source" : "Not at all",
           "mapped" : null
         }
       },
       "2" : {
         "name" : {
           "source" : "2",
           "mapped" : null
         },
         "answer" : {
           "source" : "A little bit",
           "mapped" : null
         }
       }
     }
   }
 }
}

Additional Resources