DITA offers valuable support for integrating content from pharmaceutical databases and drug reference sources into healthcare documentation. This integration is crucial for ensuring that healthcare professionals have access to accurate and up-to-date information about medications, which is vital for patient safety and informed decision-making.

1. Structured Drug Information: DITA allows for the creation of structured drug information topics that can encompass details about pharmaceuticals, including drug names, dosages, indications, contraindications, and side effects. These structured topics ensure that information about medications is organized in a consistent and standardized manner.

<drug_information>
  <drug_name>Aspirin</drug_name>
  <dosage>100mg</dosage>
  <indications>Pain relief, antiplatelet</indications>
  <contraindications>Ulcers, bleeding disorders</contraindications>
  <side_effects>Gastric irritation, bleeding</side_effects>
</drug_information>

2. Cross-Referencing: DITA enables the easy creation of cross-references to pharmaceutical databases and drug reference sources. These cross-references help healthcare professionals quickly access more detailed drug information when needed, fostering evidence-based practices.

<para>For more information about Aspirin, refer to the <xref href="pharmadatabase/aspirin" format="html" scope="external">pharmaceutical database</xref>.

3. Real-Time Updates: With DITA, integration with pharmaceutical databases can be designed to provide real-time updates. When drug information changes in the source databases, healthcare documentation is automatically updated, ensuring that healthcare professionals always have access to the latest information.

<drug_information>
  <drug_name>Aspirin</drug_name>
  <dosage>100mg</dosage>
  <indications>Pain relief, antiplatelet</indications>
  <contraindications>Ulcers, bleeding disorders</contraindications>
  <side_effects>Gastric irritation, bleeding</side_effects>
  <last_updated>2023-11-15 10:30 AM</last_updated>

By utilizing DITA, healthcare documentation can provide comprehensive and reliable information about pharmaceuticals, ensuring that healthcare professionals can make well-informed decisions when it comes to patient care and medication management.