How is the usability and accessibility of drug documentation improved with DITA in the pharmaceutical industry?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

Enhancing the usability and accessibility of drug documentation in the pharmaceutical industry through DITA XML offers several advantages. DITA’s structured content approach allows pharmaceutical organizations to create documentation that is more user-friendly and accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, patients, and regulatory bodies.

Structured Information

DITA enables the organization of drug information into structured topics, which makes it easier for users to navigate and locate specific details within drug documentation. This structured approach ensures that critical information such as drug indications, dosages, and side effects is presented consistently, improving usability for healthcare professionals who rely on this information for treatment decisions.

Accessibility Features

DITA supports the inclusion of accessibility features in drug documentation, such as alternative text for images, semantic markup for assistive technologies, and content that complies with accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). This ensures that individuals with disabilities can access and understand the information, promoting inclusivity and compliance with accessibility regulations.

Example:

Here’s an example of how DITA improves usability and accessibility in drug documentation:


<topic id="drug_information" version="2.1">
  <title>Drug Information</title>
  <body>
    <p>...

    <usability-enhancements>
      <structured-content>Organized drug information for easy navigation.</structured-content>
      <accessibility-features>Incorporated WCAG-compliant content for accessibility.</accessibility-features>
    </usability-enhancements>
  </body>
</topic>

In this example, a DITA topic titled “Drug Information” highlights how DITA improves usability through structured content organization and enhances accessibility by incorporating WCAG-compliant features, making drug documentation more user-friendly and inclusive.