Page History

Collection of Dates

Collect dates in such a way as to allow sites to record only the precision they know. The system should also store only the collected precision. Any incomplete dates must remain incomplete with no imputation and no “zero-filling” of missing components. Data collection and database processes should allow for the possibility of partial dates and times, because a partial date may be the most precise information that can be collected for some data. 

If a full date is collected (or expected), the CDASH variable --DAT or all 3 date components (i.e., --DATYY, --DATMO, --DATDD) should be included on the collection tool. If a partial date can be collected in a single field, the CDASH --DAT should be used. If a partial date must be collected as separate database fields to collect year, month, and day, refer to the CDASH Model for examples of standard naming fragments (--YY, --MO, --DD, --TIM). The capabilities of individual software systems (e.g., EDC) will determine which variable names are needed. CDASH uses separate data collection fields for dates and times.