Table 5.

Studies with caregivers/relatives

Publication	Methods	Number of participants	Points addressed
Andresen et al., 2016 [106]	qualitative interviews	7 caregivers (paid und unpaid/family caregivers)	esp. Quality of Life and AT-use emerged as major themes (results not separate from user study, see also Table 3)
Blain-Moraes et al., 2012 [90]	focus group (with users)	9 caregivers	BCI is regarded as an opportunity to maintain communication between caregivers and caretakers; caregivers would appreciate the opportunity of “back communication” (i.e. informing their caretakers, e.g. letting them know that they are on their way); caregivers also see an additional burden in dealing with the BCI (see also Table 3)
Geronimo et al., 2015 [37]	surveys (before and after testing)	41 caregivers	caregivers ranked BCI functions similar to their caretakers: priority of accuracy, variety of functions, standby reliability, wheelchair and computer control (results not separate from user study, see also Table 3)
Holz et al., 2013 [56]	focus group	3 caregivers (only featured)	focus group describes barriers for BCI use (physical, psychological, social) and its potential (freedom, independence)
Liberati et al., 2015 [91]	focus group	2 relatives + 6 caregivers and/or health professionals	reported expectations towards BCIs: information about BCIs and their applications, a system that adapts to the various stages of the disease, taking account of emotion, and retaining the users’ sense of agency