The use of herbal approaches is very common among cancer patients. Patients obtain information about herbal products mostly from YouTube. However, toxicity and complications may develop as a result of unconscious use of herbal products. This study was conducted to evaluate the scope, validity, reliability and quality of English language videos on YouTube about herbal approaches to cope with cancer. The present descriptive study analyzed a total of 62 YouTube videos. All videos published on YouTube until 10 January 2024 were watched as a result of a search with English words 'herbal approaches for cancer treatment' and 'herbal approaches for medicine' . The 62 videos that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for reliability, quality, and content by 2 independent reviewers by using the Global Quality Score, DISCERN, JAMA scales and Herbal Approaches Checklist. The results indicated that the videos included in the study exhibited moderate quality. Of the analyzed videos, 53.2% were found to be informative and 46.8% were found to be misleading. It was established that 59.7% (n=37) of the videos recommended the use of herbs that are known to be incompatible with chemotherapy. It was concluded that the majority of the videos on YouTube about herbal approaches had low accuracy, low quality and insufficient information level. In addition, the use of many herbal products incompatible with cancer type and treatment was recommended. However, the level of knowledge of health professionals regarding herbal approaches should also be taken into consideration and it should be recommended that health professionals with expertise in this field inform patients. Nurses should educate patients about herbal approaches and guide them in evaluating the reliability of online sources. They should stay updated through continuous education on herbal products and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to prevent potential herb-drug interactions.
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