Soothing music before surgery helps patients relax and need less sedation, a study found.

Just a quarter of an hour of jazz, classical and piano music before an eye operation was enough to reduce anxiety about the surgery carried out while the patient is awake.

A pilot study by the Paris-based Cochin University Hospital used music specifically composed to ease anxiety and found those who listened to it were more relaxed than others, up to an hour afterwards.

The 16 pieces were selected with the aim to prevent and manage pain, anxiety and depression.

All were instrumental pieces using a decreasing tempo, with a progressive decrease in the number of instruments playing.