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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07225907

ESCAPE Kits for Elopement Prevention in Children With Autism

This study will evaluate elopement prevention kits for children with autism spectrum disorder who exhibit elopement behavior such as dashing or wandering away from safe settings. Caregivers will be asked to rate how useful individual kit items are at reducing elopement, and to provide feedback about how ESCAPE kits affect their stress levels and ability to engage meaningfully in community settings. This study will also investigate how useful kit items are for various age groups in childhood and adolescence. Information will be used to guide development of a larger elopement prevention program.

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Key information

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Caregiver Burden Caregiver Stress Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Child Safety Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Stress, Psychological

Age range

4 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

About this study

open-label feasibility study evaluates the ESCAPE elopement prevention kits for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Kits include safety tools and visual aids intended to reduce elopement behavior. Caregivers assess the usefulness of each item and report on continued use, stress levels, and perceived impact on elopement behavior. Data will inform future large-scale studies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Caregivers of children ages 4-11 years old with a formal diagnosis of ASD (per caregiver report) who have contacted the study team expressing concerns regarding elopement behavior.

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant doesn't live with the child.
  • Only one child under the participant's care can receive the kit.
  • Participant doesn't confirm their name, mailing address, and preferred email for kit delivery and post-intervention survey reception.

Treatment and study plan

Elopement Prevention Kits

Behavioral

Kits included high locks / bolts on doors (Wideskall 3" gate door latch), door/window alarm (GE 45117 Wireless Alarm with Programmable Keypad), stop sign visual aid (reusable sticker from stickergenius.com), ID tag (SmartKidsID Child ID / Medical ID shoe tag), Bluetooth tracker (BzT patch), safety harness (Dr. Meter AntiLost Link), temporary tattoos (SafetyTat), an information sheet that includes a disclaimer that kit items should be used as intended by manufacturer, that caregivers should monitor the continued proper use of kit items, and that the use of kit items is not a substitute for proper adult supervision of the child. This sheet also included other commonly-recommended EPM such inclusion of elopement accommodations in the child's individualized education plan (if applicable), informing neighbors and/or local law enforcement about the child's elopement behavior, use of safety gates at home, use of temporary tattoos, social stories, and consideration for swimming lessons.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Kit Items Still in Use at 3 Months

    Time frame: 3 months after kit reception

    Count of individual ESCAPE kit items still actively used by caregivers, reported via REDCap survey.

  2. Caregiver-Rated Usefulness of Individual Kit Items

    Time frame: 3 months after kit reception

    Caregiver ratings of each ESCAPE kit item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Not Useful to 5 = Extremely Useful), collected via REDCap survey 3 months post-kit distribution

Secondary outcomes

  1. Caregiver Perception of Kit Impact

    Time frame: 3 months after kit reception

    Caregiver report of impact of kit on the child's elopement, caregiver's personal stress related to child's elopement behavior, and financial burden in having received kit items at no cost to them.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Education and Safety for Children With Autism to Prevent Elopement (ESCAPE) Kits Study

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Nov 10, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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