Table 3.

Analysis of the pros and cons of telerehabilitation with the people-object-environment framework.

		People (patient)	Object (patient)	Environment (patient)
People (health care professionals)
	Pros	Promoting health care access in remote areas: Telehealth facilitates convenient health care services, which enhance medical care for patients in remote areas and promote community health. Boosting patient involvement: Telehealth enables interactions with health care professionals via web-based platforms, providing medical information and guidance as well as fostering active engagement of patients in their own health management.	Improving health care resource allocation: Telehealth enables physicians to diagnose and treat patients across different geographical areas, alleviating shortages in local health care resources and enhancing the efficiency of health care resource allocation.	Reducing health care burden: Telehealth reduces the health care burden for long-term patients or those requiring regular follow-ups; this minimizes the time and effort associated with transportation and waiting as well as provides cost-effective health care options. Decreasing cross-infection risks: Telehealth minimizes contact between patients and health care professionals, thereby lowering the risk of cross-infection and promoting the health and safety of both health care professionals and patients.
	Cons	Bridging communication barriers: Telehealth reduces physical interactions and social contact between patients and physicians, which may have long-term effects on patients’ psychological and social well-being.	Operational and communication barriers: Older or technologically inexperienced patients may encounter difficulties in understanding instructions from remote health care professionals through telehealth.	Environmental limitations: Home environments often impose spatial constraints that may limit various rehabilitation, diagnostic, and treatment activities.
Object (health care professionals)
	Pros	Advantages of telehealth: Telehealth provides a convenient health care model, particularly beneficial for regions facing constraints related to time, geographical location, and transportation. The utilization of basic computer equipment enables the provision of medical consultations, making health care more accessible and efficient for patients in such areas.	Wireless transmission: Wireless transmission significantly reduces the workload of health care professionals and makes health care services more efficient by transitioning from a one-on-one service to a one-to-many format.	Digital health care infrastructure: Telehealth accelerates the transmission and exchange speed of health care information, leading to improved overall health care efficiency.
	Cons	Digital divide: Individuals who are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or have limited access to digital resources may face barriers to participation in telehealth due to the lack of appropriate technological equipment or internet connectivity. This highlights inequalities in the distribution of health care resources. Technological dependency: Users with limited technological skills or resources may encounter difficulties in operating telehealth, which requires adequate knowledge of technology, suitable equipment, and stable internet connectivity. Health care quality and patient experience: Although telehealth provides convenient remote health care options for certain diseases or conditions, in-person consultations or measurements from medical instruments may offer more accurate health care services.	Disparity in health care resources between urban and rural areas: Despite the convenience of telehealth for remote consultations, operational difficulties may still exist for areas lacking proper equipment.	Equipment and infrastructure requirements: Telehealth relies on high-speed internet and appropriate equipment, which can still pose challenges in certain rural areas.
Environment (health care professionals)
	Pros	Expansion of health care service areas: Through telehealth, physicians can diagnose and treat patients remotely without being limited by geographical location while providing real-time medical services. Expansion of professional scope: Telehealth enables physicians to engage in remote meetings and collaborations with other health care experts, enhancing medical efficiency. Enhancement of diagnosis and treatment efficiency: Telehealth reduces time and space limitations between physicians and patients, improving the efficiency of the overall health care services. Increased convenience: Telehealth offers patients greater convenience, particularly for those residing in remote areas or facing mobility challenges, thereby reducing the time and costs associated with hospital visits.	Enhancement of diagnostic and treatment capabilities: Through remote imaging and information sharing, physicians can access additional support and assistance, which improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes. Improvement of health care resource utilization: Telehealth aids physicians in managing and allocating regional health care resources more effectively, enhancing utilization efficiency and reducing unnecessary health care costs.	Reducing reliance on physical space: Telehealth reduces the need for physical space such as clinics and hospitals, thereby lowering costs and burdens associated with facilities and resources for health care institutions.
	Cons	Lack of physical contact: Telehealth may not provide opportunities for face-to-face contact with patients, which can make it challenging for physicians to conduct comprehensive physical examinations or assessments. Limitations in comprehensive treatment: Some diagnoses and treatments may require physical contact and assistance from specific equipment, which cannot necessarily be substituted by telehealth.	Technical requirements: The use of telehealth requires stable internet connectivity and appropriate device support, which may be challenging for users who are not familiar with technology. Medical responsibility and risk management: Telehealth may involve issues of medical responsibility and risk management, such as misdiagnosis, treatment errors, or incomplete medical records, which may result in medical disputes and litigation. Physicians and health care institutions need to ensure compliance with relevant medical responsibility and risk management principles in telehealth as well as maintain a high level of medical practice.	Health care security and privacy risks: The use of telehealth may involve health care security and digital privacy risks such as patient identity verification and medical record protection. Physicians should exercise caution in handling such issues.