title: A mixed study systematic review of social media in nursing and midwifery education: Protocol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To synthesize evidence on the use of social media in nursing and midwifery education.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Social media is one type of online platform that is being explored to determine if there is value in using interactive, digital communication tools to support how nurses and midwives learn in a variety of settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sequential explanatory synthesis approach will be used for this mixed study review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five bibliographic databases; PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and ERIC will be searched using a combination of keywords relevant to social networking and social media, nursing and midwifery, and education. The search will not be limited by year of publication. Titles, abstracts, and full papers will be screened by two independent reviewers against inclusion and exclusion criteria, with any disagreements resolved via a third reviewer. Selected studies will undergo quality assessment and data extraction. Data synthesis will occur in three sequential phases, with quantitative and qualitative data analysed separately and then integrated where possible to provide a conceptual framework illustrating learning via social media. Funding for this review was confirmed in May 2016 by Sigma Theta Tau International and the National League for Nursing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mixed study systematic review will produce the first rigorous synthesis on the use of social media in nursing and midwifery education and will have important implications for educators as well as students. It will also highlight knowledge gaps and make recommendations on the use of this novel technology in higher and continuing education.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8579-1718
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jolliffe
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stanmore
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Laoise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Renwick
authors.affiliation: Chamberlain College of Nursing, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.affiliation: Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0300-9954
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D057218:Blogging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
keywords: assessment; education; learning; midwifery; nursing; protocol; social media; social networking; student; teaching