Patient-centered care is a key component of high-quality healthcare, and patient satisfaction has been linked to better clinical outcomes. This study aims to investigate the satisfaction of patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) regarding their consultations with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians, and to examine how patients’ socio-economic characteristics may influence their satisfaction. We conducted a questionnaire-based study among patients over 21 years old with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). After their visits with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians, participants provided information on their demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, along with their satisfaction levels using the self-administered Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale (MISS). The MISS is a 26-item tool that evaluates patient satisfaction across three dimensions: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Statistical analyses were performed using independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA to examine differences in satisfaction scores. A total of 137 participants completed the questionnaires and were included in the analysis. The overall mean satisfaction score was 3.1 out of 5, with the cognitive domain scoring significantly higher than the affective and behavioral domains. Cognitive domain scores varied significantly according to participants’ housing type and prior experience with TCM. Behavioral domain scores showed significant differences across ethnic groups. Additionally, satisfaction scores across all domains were significantly associated with the duration of follow-up with TCM physicians. Our findings suggest that ethnicity, housing type, prior experience with TCM, and the duration of follow-up with TCM physicians may influence satisfaction scores among patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
