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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Everyday Memory Questionnaire- Revised (EMQ-R-A) in a sample of Lebanese adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2023. A diverse sample of 483 Lebanese adults aged 18 to 60 years from all Lebanese governorates was recruited. Participants completed an Arabic-language questionnaire comprising three sections: socio-demographic characteristics, health-related inquiries, the EMQ-R-A and the Arabic version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Results: The study's findings indicated that the EMQ-R-A displayed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.925). Convergent validity was supported by a significant correlation with PRMQ. Test-retest results demonstrated strong reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.925. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor model including retrieval related factors, attentional tracking related factors, and other factors. The factors labeled "Retrieval" and "Attentional Tracking" elucidate aspects of memory retrieval system efficacy and attention-related challenges. Higher EMQ-R-A scores were found to be associated with the female gender, lower attention, physical inactivity, lower educational levels, and higher number of comorbid disorders. Conclusion: The EMQ-R-A exhibits good validity and reliability. The identified factors associated with memory decline underscore the importance of addressing lifestyle factors, such as promoting physical activity, better educational attainment, and addressing comorbid health conditions, to potentially mitigate memory challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper was to assess neuropathic pain and its predictors among patients with sciatica. In addition, we sought to investigate the predictors of functional disability in sciatica patients with neuropathic pain. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 100 sciatica patients aged 18 years and older with a radiating pain from the lower back down to the leg below the knee. Information about socio-demographic characteristics, duration of symptoms, being treated or not, type of treatment, side of sciatica, presence of back pain, leg pain occurrence, leg pain intensity, functional disability and pain catastrophizing were collected. Of the total patients, 57% had neuropathic pain. Multivariable analysis showed that leg pain intensity was higher in the neuropathic pain group as compared to the non-neuropathic pain group. Also, patients with left sciatica were less likely to have neuropathic pain than patients with right sciatica. Patients with neuropathic pain having high levels of pain catastrophizing and being on bed rest for at least one week were at a higher risk of developing functional disability as compared to their counterparts. Low levels of pain catastrophizing and less bed rest should be considered in interventions aimed at improving the functional ability for sciatica patients with neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]