Online forums support palliative and bereavement care: machine learning and natural language processing analysis of qualitative data from the internet

Palliative public health policy emphasises the value of sustainable community-led palliative care and psychosocial support. However, there are significant challenges to adequate palliative and bereavement care provision including precarious funding, inconsistent availability, and recent challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minority groups and those at the greatest socioeconomic disadvantage are among those least likely to receive the care they need. Digital services may circumvent these challenges, allowing people to self-manage their needs. This research aimed to investigate how community-led online forums are used to support people facing life-limiting illness, their caregivers, and bereaved people