What role does metadata play in pharmaceutical content localization using DITA?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Metadata plays a crucial role in pharmaceutical content localization using DITA, as it provides valuable information about the content, helping translators and localization teams understand the context and requirements for translation. Metadata in DITA XML can include details such as language specifications, regulatory requirements, target audience information, and more. These metadata elements assist in streamlining the localization process and ensuring that translated pharmaceutical content aligns with regulatory standards and maintains accuracy.

Language Specification

One of the primary uses of metadata in pharmaceutical content localization is specifying the language of the content. DITA allows for the inclusion of the “xml:lang” attribute at various levels of the document hierarchy, indicating the language in which the content is written. This language specification guides translation teams in selecting the appropriate target languages for localization. For example, if a pharmaceutical document is originally authored in English and needs to be localized for French-speaking audiences, the “xml:lang” attribute can be set to “en-US” for the source and “fr-FR” for the target language.

Regulatory Compliance

Pharmaceutical content often requires adherence to strict regulatory standards in different regions and countries. Metadata can include information about the specific regulations or standards that apply to the content. For example, metadata elements can specify that the document must comply with FDA regulations in the United States or EMA guidelines in the European Union. This ensures that the localization process takes into account the necessary regulatory considerations, such as safety warnings, dosage units, and labeling requirements, to produce compliant and accurate translated content.

Example:

Here’s an example of how metadata in DITA XML can be used to specify language and regulatory requirements:


<topic id="patient_information" xml_lang="en-US">
  <title>Patient Information</title>
  <metadata>
    <regulatory-standard>FDA CFR Title 21</regulatory-standard>
    <target-language>fr-FR</target-language>
  </metadata>
  <body>
    <p>ForDrug X**, the recommendeddosageis...

  </body>
</topic>

In this example, metadata is used to specify that the content is originally in English (xml:lang=”en-US”) and needs to be localized for French-speaking audiences (target-language=”fr-FR”). It also indicates that the document must comply with FDA regulations (regulatory-standard=”FDA CFR Title 21″). This metadata guides the localization process to meet language and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical content.