Document Type
Conference Presentation
Embargo Period
7-11-2024
Publication Date
6-16-2020
Department
Pediatrics
College
College of Medicine
Abstract
Per a study published in 2019, two-thirds of patients with autism seen by the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) at MUSC engaged in elopement behavior, a potentially life-threatening behavior also known as wandering, that can lead to serious injury or death. E.S.C.A.P.E. kits were created by Dr. Pereira and the MUSC DBP autism research team in 2017 to help prevent elopement. Original kits included a door/window alarm, child ID kit, stop sign visual aids, ID bracelet, and printed materials with additional prevention tips. Initial survey data showed that 17 of 22 caregivers who completed surveys after receiving a kit reported decreased elopement behavior by their child since using the kit; 5 of the 17 listed elopement rates as none. Almost all caregivers found the alarm to be useful, but the other items less so. Feedback from these surveys inspired the desire to create an expanded version of E.S.C.A.P.E. kits that could include more items to offer additional layers of valuable protection against elopement behavior, as well as obtain additional data for statistical analysis since the efficacy of elopement prevention kits have not yet been reported in the literature.
Recommended Citation
Pereira-Smith, Silvia; Montezuma, Jessie; Vonada, Nicole; Carpenter, Laura A.; and Boan, Andrea, "Education and Safety for Children with Autism to Prevent Elopement (E.S.C.A.P.E.) Kits" (2020). MUSC Conference Presentations. 16.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/conference-presentations/16
Included in
Other Medical Sciences Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Pediatrics Commons
Description
This poster was presented at the 2020 MUSC Innovation Week Poster Session/Shark Tank, a virtual event that has been held annually to showcase MUSC’s innovative community and provide funding to winners so that their ideas can be further scaled.