Tobias Elgan

Tobias Elgan

Affiliated to Research | Docent
Visiting address: Norra Stationsgatan 69, plan 7, 11364 Stockholm
Postal address: K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 CPF Gripenberg, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • I'm an Associate Professor and researcher at STAD, a unit within the Centre for Psychiatry Research at the Karolinska Institutet. At STAD I'm involved in a number of different research projects within the field of prevention science, all with the core aim of translating science into practice. This work includes methods ranging from survey research, often resulting in needs assessments, to co-producing and evaluating preventive interventions in collaboration with stakeholders.

Research

  • One area of my research focuses on at-risk youth, including children with parents who have substance use problems, with particular emphasis on developing, evaluating, and implementing digital interventions for this target group. Another key area involves community-based preventive interventions for alcohol, drug, and doping use, which are co-produced, implemented, and evaluated across diverse settings, such as nightlife venues, sporting events, and training facilities.

Teaching

  • I'm involved in various teaching activities at the Karolinska Institutet. For instance, I regularly teach about prevention science in the course Beroendetillstånd, a continuing education course for professionals at dependency and psychiatry care and the social services, and at various courses at the Psychology program. Additionally, I supervise master's students both at Karolinska Institutet and other universities.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
    Research problem and specific questionsThe aim is to develop and evaluate a digital preventive intervention for young people (15-25 years) with caregivers who have problematic drinking. Research questions examine how the intervention is received, if it has effects on mental health and own substance use, and if it is cost-effective. The number of evaluated preventive interventions for this target group described in research literature is scarce.Data and methodThe project includes co-production of a fully automated digital intervention, pilot testing, a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and a cost-effectiveness analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative data are collected. The RCT includes at least 400 people. After a baseline assessment and randomization to the intervention or waitlist control group, follow-ups are collected after 1-, 3- and 12-months using web-based questionnaires. Scales assess depression, stress, anxiety, quality of life, alcohol and other substance use, and societal resource use. Data are analyzed descriptively and with methods for longitudinal data.Societal relevance and utilizationUp to 20% of Swedish children grow up with caregivers who have problematic drinking, and they are at increased risk of several negative outcomes like poor school performance, own risky substance use, and mental and physical ill-health. Society´s support efforts reach a negligible proportion of this high-risk group. Our project offers a readily accessible digital intervention that is evaluated in terms of effects and cost-effectiveness. As we already have established collaboration with key actors, there are good opportunities to disseminate and make the intervention available. The intervention can serve as the first step towards seeking help for these children and young people.Plan for project realizationThe intervention is developed in co-production with end-users and representatives from addiction clinics, social services, student healthcare centers, and Children’s rights. The intervention will include components like psychoeducation, films, exercises, questions, and feedback. A web bureau develops the technical interface. The pilot study focuses on study feasibility and the target group’s acceptance. An RCT is conducted with sufficient power to detect a difference in the study´s primary outcome – depression. Based on RCT data, a cost-effectiveness analysis is conducted. Funding covers costs for salaries, intervention development, and data collection.
  • Staff at licensed premises and their action against narcotics
    The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
    1 January 2023 - 31 May 2023
  • Assignment to STAD to follow up on the work against open drug scenes in Stockholm County during the period 2022-2027
    Region Stockholm
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2027
  • Process evaluation of Group Violence Intervention (GVI) in Järfälla, Upplands-Bro, Huddinge, and Uppsala
    The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
    1 August 2022 - 31 May 2024
  • Elite football players, problem gambling, and prevention strategies
    Svenska Spel's Independent Research Council
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Evaluation of crime prevention targeting open drug scenes
    Region Stockholm
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2027
  • Process evaluation of Group Violence Intervention in four municipalities in Sweden.
    The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
    1 January 2022 - 1 August 2024
  • Mapping the drug situation in the nightlife in seven counties
    Östergötland County Council
    1 December 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Development, implementation, and evaluation of a digital prevention intervention targeting children who have parents with substance use problems
    Innovation Fund of Region Stockholm
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Follow-up of a digital doping training for police officers
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021
  • Follow-up of digital tailoring of the Responsible Beverage Service training
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021
  • Follow-up of two web-based trainings in Responsible Beverage Service and Clubs against Drugs
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021
  • Responsible Beverage Service - A 25-year follow-up
    The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Development of alcohol prevention at student health centers
    The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Responsible Beverage Service- a 25-year follow-up
    Systembolagets alkoholforskningsråd
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2022
  • Digitalization of the education program 'Responsible Alcohol Service'
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2021 - 31 March 2021
  • Effects of a web-based alcohol prevention program for youth
    The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Grubbel - A randomized controlled trial of a web-based intervention
    The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Open drug scenes - Evaluation of the work by the Police force
    The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Evaluation of crime prevention measures aimed at two open drug scenes.
    The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention
    1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021
  • Effect evaluation of the compliance checks method of alcohol and tobacco
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 August 2018 - 31 December 2020
  • Evaluation of the effect of compliance checks regarding tobacco and alcohol products
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2018 - 31 December 2020
  • Evaluation of tobacco compliance checks
    Stockholm County Council
    1 December 2016 - 31 March 2020
  • STAD in Europe
    European Commission Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2018
  • Psychometric evaluation of AUDIT, CRAFF, ASSIST, and CAST-6 among 15-18 year olds
    The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly
    1 January 2015 - 31 December 2017
  • Development and evaluation of a web-based support-group intervention for youth who have parents with substance use problems
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2016
  • Effect evaluation of web-ICAIP: A web-based self-help program for adolescents in families with substance use problems
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2013 - 31 March 2014
  • WISEteens - A web-based screening and brief intervention for adolescents at risk
    European Commission Directorate-General Justice, Freedom and Security
    1 January 2011 - 31 December 2013
  • Evaluation of the project "Children of substance abusing parents"
    The Public Health Agency of Sweden
    1 January 2010 - 31 December 2012
  • Show more

Employments

  • Researcher, Prevention science, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Health Care Services, Regio, STAD, Centre for Psychiatry Research, 2009-
  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2026
  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2026

Degrees and Education

  • Associate professor in Public Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2023
  • Docent, Public Health Science, Karolinska Institutet, 2023
  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 2009
  • Master's degree, Chemistry, Södertörn University, 2001
  • Associate degree, Math science, North Country Community College, 1996

Other expert reviewer/evaluation assignment

  • Evaluator of research applications in national competition, Board Member of the Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly, The Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly, 2018-2023
  • Other evaluation assignments, Reviewer of scientific papers, National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), 2011-2011
  • Other evaluation assignments, Reviewer of scientific papers, National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), 2010-2010

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