Where did it go? How Information Management Practices Impact Rigor and Reproducibility in Collaborative Clinical and Translational Research

Abstract

Introduction: Clinical and translational research teams (CTRTs) use a vast array of information (digital artifacts used to generate, share, and retrieve data) in their collaborative work, yet information management is often devalued compared to more visible aspects of data-related work. In this second paper from the Information Management Prototype for Clinical and Translational Research (IMPACT-CTR) study, we present (1) the shared practices CTRT members implemented to manage, store, retrieve and share their information, and (2) the impact of these practices on the teams and their work. Methods: We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 52 team members across 11 CTRTs. Results: We identified information practices that spanned research activities such as team meetings, data collection, dissemination, and overall project management. Effective management of information fostered workflow efficiency, increased shared awareness, and built confidence in the research CTRTs produced. However, inconsistent management of information slowed the workflow, created frustration, and reduced trust in the completeness of research outputs. Discussion: These results demonstrate that information practices are deeply interdependent, preserve institutional knowledge, and ultimately bolster the efficient and effective progression of scientific work. CTRTs who took time to reflect on, implement, and evaluate several lightweight practices through the research lifecycle enhanced the rigor and reproducibility of their science.