Melissa Wake
Biographic Data
| ID | 5467331 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa Wake |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa |
| FAMILY NAME | Wake |
| SIGNATURE | WAKE M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Royal Children's Hospital |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7501-9257 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 25 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Generation Victoria (GenV)
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05394363; retrospectively registered 23 May 2022 (8 months into recruitment)
Association between children's health-related quality of life, healthcare costs and socioeconomic position
Equity in healthcare service access and use are national goals and principal indicators of health system performance. Whilst it is important to understand how healthcare costs, socioeconomic position (SEP), and children's well-being are associated, limited literature explores how these covary. To explore the associations between families' SEP and (1) children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from 4 to 13 years; and (2) healthcare costs fr…
Using machine‐learning methods to identify early‐life predictors of 11‐year language outcome
BACKGROUND: Language is foundational for neurodevelopment and quality of life, but an estimated 10% of children have a language disorder at age 5. Many children shift between classifications of typical and low language if assessed at multiple times in the early years, making it difficult to identify which children will have persisting difficulties and benefit most from support. This study aims to identify a parsimonious set of preschool indicator…
Spoken Expressive Vocabulary in 2-Year-Old Children with Hearing Loss
Through a cross-sectional community study of 2044 children aged 2 years, we (1) examine the impact of hearing loss on early spoken expressive vocabulary outcomes and (2) investigate how early intervention-related factors impact expressive vocabulary outcomes in children with hearing loss predominantly identified through universal newborn hearing screening. We used validated parent/caregiver-reported checklists from two longitudinal cohorts (302 c…
Improving Cohort-Hospital Matching Accuracy through Standardization and Validation of Participant Identifiable Information
Linking very large, consented birth cohorts to birthing hospitals clinical data could elucidate the lifecourse outcomes of health care and exposures during the pregnancy, birth and newborn periods. Unfortunately, cohort personally identifiable information (PII) often does not include unique identifier numbers, presenting matching challenges. To develop optimized cohort matching to birthing hospital clinical records, this pilot drew on a one-year …
Goldilocks Days
BACKGROUND: One size rarely fits all in population health. Differing outcomes may compete for best allocations of time. Among children aged 11-12 years, we aimed to (1) describe optimal 24-hour time use for diverse physical, cognitive/academic and well-being outcomes, (2) pinpoint the 'Goldilocks Day' that optimises all outcomes and (3) develop a tool to customise time-use recommendations. METHODS: In 2004, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Ch…
Enhancing Value and Uptake for Whole-Population Cohorts of Children and Parents
Health registries are critical to understanding, benchmarking and improving quality of care for specific diseases and conditions, but face hurdles including funding, bias towards clinical rather than population samples, lack of pre-morbid and outcomes data, and absent cross-registry harmonisation and coordination. Children are particularly under-represented in registry research. This paper lays out novel principles, methods and governance to inte…
Backyard benefits? A cross-sectional study of yard size and greenness and children’s physical activity and outdoor play
In our study of young children residing in higher socio-economic areas of Melbourne yard characteristics did not appear to have a major impact on children's physical activity. Larger studies with greater variation in yard characteristics and identification of activity location are needed to better understand the importance of home outdoor spaces and guide sustainable city planning
Digital Mega-Studies as a New Research Paradigm
Digital Mega-Studies' are entirely or extensively digitised, longitudinal, population-scale initiatives, collecting, storing, and making available individual-level research data of different types and from multiple sources, shaped by technological developments and unforeseeable risks over time. The Australian 'Gen V' project exemplifies this new research paradigm. In 2019, we undertook a multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder process to map Digital…
Direct assessment of mental health and metabolic syndrome amongst Indonesian adolescents
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with the burden largely borne by people living in low- and middle-income countries. Adolescents are central to NCD control through the potential to modify risks and alter the trajectory of these diseases across the life-course. However, an absence of epidemiological data has contributed to the relative exclusion of adolescents from policies and responses. …
Mapping PedsQLTM scores onto CHU9D utility scores
The role of joint engagement in the development of language in a community-derived sample of slow-to-talk children
We explored whether supported (SJE) or coordinated joint engagement (CJE) between mothers recruited from the community and their 24-month-old children who were slow-to-talk at 18 months old were associated with child language scores at ages 24, 36, and 48 months ( n = 197). We further explored whether SJE or CJE modified the concurrent positive associations between maternal responsive behaviours and language scores. Previous research has shown th…
Parental health behaviour predictors of childhood and adolescent dietary trajectories
Objective To determine which parental health behaviours early in childhood most strongly predict whole-of-childhood dietary trajectories. Design Population-based Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC, waves 1–6; 2004–2014). Exposures were parents’ fruit/vegetable consumption, alcohol, smoking and physical activity at child age 0–1 years (B Cohort) or 4–5 years (K Cohort). Outcomes, from repeated biennial short diet diaries, were group-b…
Childhood dietary trajectories and adolescent cardiovascular phenotypes
Objective With the intention to inform future public health initiatives, we aimed to determine the extent to which typical childhood dietary trajectories predict adolescent cardiovascular phenotypes. Design Longitudinal study. Exposure was determined by a 4 d food diary repeated over eight waves (ages 4–15 years), coded by Australian Dietary Guidelines and summed into a continuous diet score (0–14). Outcomes were adolescent (Wave 8, age 15 years)…
Socioeconomic status in childhood and C reactive protein in adulthood
Early life socioeconomic determinants of dietary score and pattern trajectories across six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
BACKGROUND: Social patterning of dietary-related diseases may partly be explained by population disparities in children's diets. This study aimed to determine which early life socioeconomic factors best predict dietary trajectories across childhood. METHODS: For waves 2-6 of the Baby (B) Cohort (ages 2-3 to 10-11 years) and waves 1-6 of the Kindergarten (K) Cohort (ages 4-5 to 14-15 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we cons…
Feeding practices and child weight
Bi-directional longitudinal associations between overweight and health-related quality of life from 4–11years. Longitudinal study of Australian children
Preventing mental health problems in children
ISRCTN61137690
Socioeconomic inequality profiles in physical and developmental health from 0–7 years
BACKGROUND: Early and persistent exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage impairs children's health and wellbeing. However, it is unclear at what age health inequalities emerge or whether these relationships vary across ages and outcomes. We address these issues using cross-sectional Australian population data on the physical and developmental health of children at ages 0-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7 years. METHODS: 10 physical and developmental health outc…
The Cool Little Kids randomised controlled trial
This trial addresses gaps for internalising problems identified in the 2004 World Health Organization Prevention of Mental Disorders report. If effective and cost-effective, the intervention could readily be applied at a population level. Governments consider mental health to be a priority, enhancing the likelihood that an effective early prevention program would be adopted in Australia and internationally. RCH HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL: 301…
Predictors of early precocious talking
This study examines potential predictors of ‘precocious talking’ (expressive language ⩾90th percentile) at one and two years of age, and of ‘stability’ in precocious talking across both time periods, drawing on data from a prospective community cohort comprising over 1,800 children. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between precocious talking and the following potential predictors: gender, birth order, birth weight, non-Eng…
Cost-effectiveness of a family-based GP-mediated intervention targeting overweight and moderately obese children
Enhancing Longitudinal Studies by Linkage to National Databases
Growing Up in Australia is a national longitudinal study of the development and wellbeing of 10,000 Australian children. The study has been committed since inception to support data linkage to other datasets, to value‐add to the primary modes of data collection from parents and others. It can increase the efficiency of data collection by reducing respondent and interviewer burden as well as adding new dimensions to addressing key research questio…
Stability of body mass index in Australian children
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity, the frequency of overweight resolution and the influence of parental adiposity during middle childhood. Design: As part of a prospective cohort study, height and weight were measured in 1997 and 2000/2001. Children were classified as non-overweight, overweight or obese based on standard international definitions. Body mass index (BMI) was transformed into age- and g…
Socioeconomic inequality profiles in physical and developmental health from 0–7 years
BACKGROUND: Early and persistent exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage impairs children's health and wellbeing. However, it is unclear at what age health inequalities emerge or whether these relationships vary across ages and outcomes. We address these issues using cross-sectional Australian population data on the physical and developmental health of children at ages 0-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7 years. METHODS: 10 physical and developmental health outc…
Goldilocks Days
BACKGROUND: One size rarely fits all in population health. Differing outcomes may compete for best allocations of time. Among children aged 11-12 years, we aimed to (1) describe optimal 24-hour time use for diverse physical, cognitive/academic and well-being outcomes, (2) pinpoint the 'Goldilocks Day' that optimises all outcomes and (3) develop a tool to customise time-use recommendations. METHODS: In 2004, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Ch…
Early life socioeconomic determinants of dietary score and pattern trajectories across six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
BACKGROUND: Social patterning of dietary-related diseases may partly be explained by population disparities in children's diets. This study aimed to determine which early life socioeconomic factors best predict dietary trajectories across childhood. METHODS: For waves 2-6 of the Baby (B) Cohort (ages 2-3 to 10-11 years) and waves 1-6 of the Kindergarten (K) Cohort (ages 4-5 to 14-15 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we cons…
Enhancing Longitudinal Studies by Linkage to National Databases
Growing Up in Australia is a national longitudinal study of the development and wellbeing of 10,000 Australian children. The study has been committed since inception to support data linkage to other datasets, to value‐add to the primary modes of data collection from parents and others. It can increase the efficiency of data collection by reducing respondent and interviewer burden as well as adding new dimensions to addressing key research questio…
Stability of body mass index in Australian children
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity, the frequency of overweight resolution and the influence of parental adiposity during middle childhood. Design: As part of a prospective cohort study, height and weight were measured in 1997 and 2000/2001. Children were classified as non-overweight, overweight or obese based on standard international definitions. Body mass index (BMI) was transformed into age- and g…
Enhancing Longitudinal Studies by Linkage to National Databases
Growing Up in Australia is a national longitudinal study of the development and wellbeing of 10,000 Australian children. The study has been committed since inception to support data linkage to other datasets, to value‐add to the primary modes of data collection from parents and others. It can increase the efficiency of data collection by reducing respondent and interviewer burden as well as adding new dimensions to addressing key research questio…
Cost-effectiveness of a family-based GP-mediated intervention targeting overweight and moderately obese children
Predictors of early precocious talking
This study examines potential predictors of ‘precocious talking’ (expressive language ⩾90th percentile) at one and two years of age, and of ‘stability’ in precocious talking across both time periods, drawing on data from a prospective community cohort comprising over 1,800 children. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between precocious talking and the following potential predictors: gender, birth order, birth weight, non-Eng…
The Cool Little Kids randomised controlled trial
This trial addresses gaps for internalising problems identified in the 2004 World Health Organization Prevention of Mental Disorders report. If effective and cost-effective, the intervention could readily be applied at a population level. Governments consider mental health to be a priority, enhancing the likelihood that an effective early prevention program would be adopted in Australia and internationally. RCH HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS APPROVAL: 301…
Preventing mental health problems in children
ISRCTN61137690
Socioeconomic inequality profiles in physical and developmental health from 0–7 years
BACKGROUND: Early and persistent exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage impairs children's health and wellbeing. However, it is unclear at what age health inequalities emerge or whether these relationships vary across ages and outcomes. We address these issues using cross-sectional Australian population data on the physical and developmental health of children at ages 0-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7 years. METHODS: 10 physical and developmental health outc…
Feeding practices and child weight
Bi-directional longitudinal associations between overweight and health-related quality of life from 4–11years. Longitudinal study of Australian children
Socioeconomic status in childhood and C reactive protein in adulthood
Early life socioeconomic determinants of dietary score and pattern trajectories across six waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
BACKGROUND: Social patterning of dietary-related diseases may partly be explained by population disparities in children's diets. This study aimed to determine which early life socioeconomic factors best predict dietary trajectories across childhood. METHODS: For waves 2-6 of the Baby (B) Cohort (ages 2-3 to 10-11 years) and waves 1-6 of the Kindergarten (K) Cohort (ages 4-5 to 14-15 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, we cons…
The role of joint engagement in the development of language in a community-derived sample of slow-to-talk children
We explored whether supported (SJE) or coordinated joint engagement (CJE) between mothers recruited from the community and their 24-month-old children who were slow-to-talk at 18 months old were associated with child language scores at ages 24, 36, and 48 months ( n = 197). We further explored whether SJE or CJE modified the concurrent positive associations between maternal responsive behaviours and language scores. Previous research has shown th…
Parental health behaviour predictors of childhood and adolescent dietary trajectories
Objective To determine which parental health behaviours early in childhood most strongly predict whole-of-childhood dietary trajectories. Design Population-based Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC, waves 1–6; 2004–2014). Exposures were parents’ fruit/vegetable consumption, alcohol, smoking and physical activity at child age 0–1 years (B Cohort) or 4–5 years (K Cohort). Outcomes, from repeated biennial short diet diaries, were group-b…
Childhood dietary trajectories and adolescent cardiovascular phenotypes
Objective With the intention to inform future public health initiatives, we aimed to determine the extent to which typical childhood dietary trajectories predict adolescent cardiovascular phenotypes. Design Longitudinal study. Exposure was determined by a 4 d food diary repeated over eight waves (ages 4–15 years), coded by Australian Dietary Guidelines and summed into a continuous diet score (0–14). Outcomes were adolescent (Wave 8, age 15 years)…
Mapping PedsQLTM scores onto CHU9D utility scores
Direct assessment of mental health and metabolic syndrome amongst Indonesian adolescents
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with the burden largely borne by people living in low- and middle-income countries. Adolescents are central to NCD control through the potential to modify risks and alter the trajectory of these diseases across the life-course. However, an absence of epidemiological data has contributed to the relative exclusion of adolescents from policies and responses. …
Enhancing Value and Uptake for Whole-Population Cohorts of Children and Parents
Health registries are critical to understanding, benchmarking and improving quality of care for specific diseases and conditions, but face hurdles including funding, bias towards clinical rather than population samples, lack of pre-morbid and outcomes data, and absent cross-registry harmonisation and coordination. Children are particularly under-represented in registry research. This paper lays out novel principles, methods and governance to inte…
Backyard benefits? A cross-sectional study of yard size and greenness and children’s physical activity and outdoor play
In our study of young children residing in higher socio-economic areas of Melbourne yard characteristics did not appear to have a major impact on children's physical activity. Larger studies with greater variation in yard characteristics and identification of activity location are needed to better understand the importance of home outdoor spaces and guide sustainable city planning
Digital Mega-Studies as a New Research Paradigm
Digital Mega-Studies' are entirely or extensively digitised, longitudinal, population-scale initiatives, collecting, storing, and making available individual-level research data of different types and from multiple sources, shaped by technological developments and unforeseeable risks over time. The Australian 'Gen V' project exemplifies this new research paradigm. In 2019, we undertook a multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder process to map Digital…
Improving Cohort-Hospital Matching Accuracy through Standardization and Validation of Participant Identifiable Information
Linking very large, consented birth cohorts to birthing hospitals clinical data could elucidate the lifecourse outcomes of health care and exposures during the pregnancy, birth and newborn periods. Unfortunately, cohort personally identifiable information (PII) often does not include unique identifier numbers, presenting matching challenges. To develop optimized cohort matching to birthing hospital clinical records, this pilot drew on a one-year …
Goldilocks Days
BACKGROUND: One size rarely fits all in population health. Differing outcomes may compete for best allocations of time. Among children aged 11-12 years, we aimed to (1) describe optimal 24-hour time use for diverse physical, cognitive/academic and well-being outcomes, (2) pinpoint the 'Goldilocks Day' that optimises all outcomes and (3) develop a tool to customise time-use recommendations. METHODS: In 2004, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Ch…
Association between children's health-related quality of life, healthcare costs and socioeconomic position
Equity in healthcare service access and use are national goals and principal indicators of health system performance. Whilst it is important to understand how healthcare costs, socioeconomic position (SEP), and children's well-being are associated, limited literature explores how these covary. To explore the associations between families' SEP and (1) children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from 4 to 13 years; and (2) healthcare costs fr…
Using machine‐learning methods to identify early‐life predictors of 11‐year language outcome
BACKGROUND: Language is foundational for neurodevelopment and quality of life, but an estimated 10% of children have a language disorder at age 5. Many children shift between classifications of typical and low language if assessed at multiple times in the early years, making it difficult to identify which children will have persisting difficulties and benefit most from support. This study aims to identify a parsimonious set of preschool indicator…
Spoken Expressive Vocabulary in 2-Year-Old Children with Hearing Loss
Through a cross-sectional community study of 2044 children aged 2 years, we (1) examine the impact of hearing loss on early spoken expressive vocabulary outcomes and (2) investigate how early intervention-related factors impact expressive vocabulary outcomes in children with hearing loss predominantly identified through universal newborn hearing screening. We used validated parent/caregiver-reported checklists from two longitudinal cohorts (302 c…
Generation Victoria (GenV)
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05394363; retrospectively registered 23 May 2022 (8 months into recruitment)
Medicine (21 works) · Demography (13 works) · Environmental health (13 works) · Population (13 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (11 works) · Psychology (10 works) · Gerontology (8 works) · Cohort (7 works) · Demography (7 works) · Birth, Development, and Health (6 works)